PL club join race to sign Spanish star amid interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid - Reports
Premier League side Newcastle United have joined Barcelona and Real Madrid in the race to sign Athletic Bilbao forward Nico Williams. That's according to a report from Spanish outlet Sport (via El Nacional), which claims the Magpies are ready to step up their efforts to lure the player to England.
According to reports, Barcelona have emerged as frontrunners in the race to secure the services of Nico Williams over the last couple of weeks. The Catalan giants are reportedly determined to bolster their squad following their struggles this season and are convinced that Williams would be a great addition to their side.
As per the aforementioned report, while the Catalan giants can afford the player's €50 million release clause, they won't be able to match the salary a club like Newcastle could offer. In such a scenario, the decision would lie with Williams about where he wants to continue his career.
Real Madrid have also been linked with a move for the winger, but their chances of signing him look very slim. At the moment, Los Blancos are focused on their efforts to lure Kylian Mbappe to the Santiago Bernabeu this summer and are unlikely to pay attention to another transfer.
Newcastle United, meanwhile, have shown interest in snapping up the 21-year-old winger. As per the report, the club's owner, Mohamed bin Salman, is a huge fan of Williams and fancies the idea of bring him to the Premier League.
The Magpies are said to be ready to offer the player an attractive salary and the opportunity to play in the Premier League might also play a part in his decision-making.
It is still unclear what the future holds for the attacker. As it stands, Barcelona and Newcastle appear as the realistic options to secure his services, as Real Madrid's congestion upfront would make it difficult for them to sign another forward.
What's next for Barcelona and Real Madrid?
Barcelona's fate is already sealed: the Catalan giants will end the season trophyless after failing to defend their league title and crashing out of the Champions League quarterfinals. They'll now be focusing on their last two La Liga games against Rayo Vallecano and Sevilla.
Real Madrid, having won the La Liga title already, will also round up their league campaign with clashes with Villarreal and Real Betis over the next nine days. They will then take on Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final on June 1 to conclude their campaign.
Both teams are expected to have an important transfer window, albeit with different priorities. Los Blancos will be looking to add Mbappe to an already impressive squad, while La Blaugrana will be hoping to work around their financial constraints to build the best possible team for next season.