FC Barcelona, Liverpool and Aston Villa have put Nico Williams high on the list of transfer targets, writes the usually reliable ASH. The Athletic Club winger has a contract until mid-2024, so interested clubs hope to be able to pick him up on a free transfer next summer.
The fact that he has a contract until mid-2024 means that clubs can negotiate with him about a possible employment contract from January. However, Athletic Club would rather not see the promising talent leave on a free transfer and is currently trying to extend his contract. The Bilbao club has been in contact for weeks about a new contract, which will probably happen. It seems a certainty that Williams will still make a transfer next summer, but clubs will have to dig deep into their pockets.
The entourage of 21-year-old Williams and his current employer are talking about a buyout clause of around sixty million euros. This would not make him the club’s most expensive outgoing transfer ever. The club from the Basque Country sold Kepa Arrizabalaga to Chelsea for 85 million euros in 2019 and in 2018 Aymeric Laporte was sold to Manchester City for 65 million euros.
Williams is known in Spain as one of the country’s greatest talents. The younger brother of Iñaki Williams, who is also under contract with Athletic Club, made 43 appearances on behalf of his club last season. He managed to score 9 goals and was a scorer 6 times. This season, Williams will pick up where he left off. So far, the counter has reached the same number of assists after 4 games. He is also a ten-time international player for Spain. He scored 2 goals on behalf of his country.