Arsenal and Liverpool join race to sign fastest player in Spain

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Published on:

15 Jan 2016, 10:06 am

By Spain correspondent Miguel de Souza

Arsenal and Liverpool have joined the race to sign Athletic Bilbao winger Inaki Williams, Football Insider sources understand.

The two Premier League have sent scouts to watch the Spain under-21 international in recent weeks as they assess whether to bid for him.

Tottenham have also been closely watching Williams, who has been timed as the fastest player in La Liga.

Williams broke the record in Spain last season after being clocked at an astonishing 22.2 miles per hour during a 1-1 draw with Deportivo La Coruna in May.

A Spain source has told Football Insider that Arsenal and Liverpool are not looking to buy Williams this month but he is under consideration for the summer.

The 21-year-old has a £15.3million release clause in his contract and Bilbao officials are keen to extend his contract beyond 2017 and increase the value of the clause.

Williams became the first black player to score in the club’s 117-year history after netting against Torino last February and has emerged as a fans' favourite at Bilbao.

Bilbao-born Williams, the son of a Ghanaian father and Liberian mother, has scored six times in 14 Spanish league matches this season, and 10 in 22 appearances in all competitions.

The winger can play anywhere across the front three and has been used as a central striker for Spain Under-21s but is predominantly used on the right wing by his club.

Arsenal

Tottenham Hotspur

Liverpool FC

Athletic Bilbao