Rangers attentions are already turning to Athletic Bilbao and a Europa League quarter final clash that has fans dreaming once again at Ibrox.
Rangers will have to overcome this season’s Europa League Final hosts if they’re to progress to the competition’s semi-finals.
Athletic Bilbao’s Estadio de San Mames will be the venue for this season’s showpiece and Ibrox fans will hope to make the trip to Spain twice between now and June.
Barry Ferguson and his team were sent an away day blueprint over the weekend, Ernesto Valverde frustrated by Athletics’s stuttering draw with Osasuna in Bilbao.
Now, Premier League giants Arsenal threaten to disrupt the La Liga side’s preparations amid reports the Gunners’ new sporting director has had meetings in Spain.
Arsenal meet with Athletic star’s agents ahead of Rangers clash
We’ve spoken about the talents of Nico Williams plenty heading into Rangers’ Europa League clash with Bilbao.
The 22-year-old winger was a crucial part of the Spanish squad which defeated England to lift the European Championship trophy in 2024.
Europe’s elite are queuing up for Williams, with this expected to be the attacker’s final season at Athletic Bilbao with bigger things beckoning in the months ahead.
Arsenal might well have just handed Athletic an unwelcome distraction heading into the tie with Rangers too, amid reports the club’s new sporting director has been meeting with Williams’ agents.
The Guardian report that new Arsenal recruitment guru Andrea Berta has met with Williams’ representative Félix Tainta in one of Berta’s first moves as the Gunners’ new sporting director.
Former Atletico Madrid sporting director Berta was only just appointed to the role at Arsenal at the end of March, with Williams being scouted closely at the Emirates for the last two years.
Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Chelsea are also mentioned as suitors, with Williams believed to have a €58m (£48.4m) release clause at Athletic.
Athletic handed double injury boost ahead of Rangers trip
With speculation rife that Nico Williams could leave Athletic Bilbao, Rangers fans will hoping the reports unsettle the winger heading into the rest of the season.
But Athletic have also been handed some good news heading into the Europa League clash with the Gers at Ibrox.
Athletic’s top scorer Oihan Sancet has returned to training ahead of the Europa League trip to face Rangers.
The 14-goal striker has been out of action since February with an ankle injury but is back in the Athletic squad for the weekend’s clash with Villarreal.
Athletic have also been boosted by the return of Spanish international defender Dani Vivian, who has been missing since the Europa League knockout clash with AS Roma in Spain.
The Gers know they will certainly be up against it in the Europa League clash, Rangers missing John Souttar and Mohamed Diomande for the first leg at Ibrox.
