Nico Williams to Arsenal transfer twist as familiar Barcelona issue arises for £50m star

La Liga president Javier Tebas has proclaimed that Barcelona would not currently be able to register Nico Williams with the league.

Williams, 22, is said to be closing in on completing a move to the Catalan club. However, their almost annual issues with registering players appear problematic again this summer transfer window.

Dani Olmo and Pau Victor were in the same situation last year. Only a timely injury to former Chelsea central defender Andreas Christensen allowed them to replace him effectively. That, though, only happened after each missed the opening two matches of the season against Athletic Club and Valencia.

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Tebas has now warned that a similar scenario could happen again this term. "Barcelona could not register him today," the league's president said on the Spanish sports radio show El Partidazo de COPE .

Williams' representatives also reportedly want a clause in his contract allowing their client to leave for free if Barcelona cannot register him. The club, though, are said to be against including such an option, according to the Spanish sports newspaper Mundo Deportivo.

They also acknowledge that a move did not materialise because of the risk that he would be left unregistered. The request this summer is said to have only emerged over recent days, with the timing said to have left Barcelona unhappy.

Williams reportedly wants a move done and to be registered by 5 July, which is Saturday. That urgency is allegedly because the player does not want to start pre-season with Athletic Club only to leave later.

Mikel Arteta admires the Spain international and is someone the club have shown interest in over recent summers.

However, affording the wages Williams would want and has become accustomed to at the Basque club, which is said to be upwards of £200,000 per week, always appeared problematic for Arsenal.

The Gunners have been linked with a number of wide forwards this summer, with Real Madrid's Rodrygo and Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo also potential transfer targets. Though the latter of said duo looks to be closing in on a move to Manchester United.

Arsenal are also in need of a striker this summer, with it a priority position if they want to go one better and win the Premier League title.