Nico Williams may be lighting Euro 2024 up, but the Athletic Club winger has still not done enough to convince everyone at Barcelona that he is worth spending €55 million on, opening the door for Arsenal or Chelsea to complete a deal.
The attacker was one of the hottest properties on the transfer market before arriving in Germany for the European Championship, yet his outstanding displays with Spain have only enhanced his growing reputation.
He notably shone against Georgia, delivering a killer blow to the underdogs as La Roja romped through to the quarter-finals of the competition with a 4-1 success.
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Nico Williams is a player who would perfectly fit at Camp Nou, where Barca are chasing the addition of a left winger.
With a release clause in his Athletic deal thought to be worth in the region of €55m, the 21-year-old is broadly seen as one of the potential bargains of the summer. That is not, however, the case at Barcelona, where doubts exist about his arrival, according to Sport.
It is not, however, his performance level that has left questions over his move to Barca. Instead, it is his attitude.
“Some members of the board do not like the way Nico Williams has managed his future,” Sport reports.
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Barcelona’s argument is that he should not have signed a new contract with Athletic Club until 2027 last summer, when he already knew about the interest of the cash-strapped Catalans.
Instead of being able to sign him for free, Barca must stump up €55m, which is a sum they will struggle to raise.
Premier League move on the cards?
This opens the door for Nico Williams to leave for the Premier League.
FootballTransfers first broke news of Arsenal’s interest in the player in May, and the Gunners retain a strong interest in him.
Chelsea are also monitoring his performances. Gianluca Di Marzio has claimed the Stamford Bridge side are poised to go “all-in” for Nico.
Barca’s dallying over a deal is an invitation for these clubs to move, although reports have previously suggested that Williams’ preference is to remain in Spain.
