Barcelona have made a significant breakthrough in their pursuit of Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams. The Catalans have agreed personal terms with the Euro 2024 winner.
Although this marks an important step, the Blaugrana still face hurdles before finalising the move, as several factors remain unresolved.
The Spain international has enjoyed growing attention this summer, with Premier League side Arsenal and Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich also expressing strong interest.
However, Williams appears determined to join Barcelona, where he is eager to reunite with close friend and national teammate Lamine Yamal. His request for Yamal’s assistance in pushing the move forward goes further to show his preference for the Spanish club.
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Barcelona previously considered Liverpool’s recently-wedded Luis Diaz but balked at the Reds’ £80 million asking price. The 22-year-old winger has a release clause of €62 million (£53 million) at Bilbao, which Barcelona are reportedly prepared to trigger. This suggests negotiations could soon accelerate towards completion.
Club sporting director Deco met with Williams’ representatives in Ibiza recently and secured a verbal agreement on a six-year deal. Nevertheless, Barcelona’s financial constraints and La Liga’s strict salary regulations might complicate immediate confirmation of the transfer.
Notably, Williams is coming off the most productive season of his career after scoring 11 goals in 41 appearances across all competitions. His club success was mirrored on the international stage, as he opened the scoring for Spain in their 2-1 victory against England in the Euro 2024 final, further boosting his market value.
While Barcelona seem favourites to land the talented winger, rivals Arsenal and Bayern Munich remain alert. Both cubs are hoping to hijack the deal should complications arise. Despite these lurking threats, the player’s desire to play in Spain and his close relationship with Yamal gives the Blaugrana a distinct advantage.
For now, Barcelona fans remain hopeful as the club pushes to finalise one of this summer’s most exciting transfer sagas.
Tags: Nico Williams, Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao, Lamine Yamal, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, #Culers, #Blaugrana, #Catalans, Luis Diaz, Liverpool, #YNWA, #LaLiga, #COYG.
