Barcelona handed boost in chase to sign Chelsea and PSG target - Reports
Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams reportedly wants to remain in Spain despite interest from Chelsea and PSG, handing a boost to Barcelona in their efforts to sign the 21-year-old. Williams is coming off a superb 2023-24 season with Bilbao.
Williams struck eight times and provided 19 assists in 37 games across competitions, including three goals and five assists in six games in their victorious Copa del Rey campaign.
Despite being contracted to Bilbao till 2027, Williams has attracted interest from top clubs like Barca, the Blues and the Parisians. However, as reported by Barca Universal (as per SPORT), the winger wants to remain in Spain, which puts the Blaugrana in pole position to snap him up.
It's pertinent to note that Chelsea are willing to trigger his reported release clause of €58 million and also triple his wages. However, Williams apparently wants to join Barca, with whom his entourage seems to have had a verbal agreement.
It's also reported that if a deal doesn't materialise due to financial reasons - considering Barca's well-documented financial woes - Williams would prefer to stay at Bilbao for another season.
However, with Bilbao not willing to accept anything less than his release clause, Barca might have to find innovative ways to land their man.
How has Barcelona, PSG and Chelsea target Nico Williams fared at Euro 2024?
Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams is having an impressive campaign with Spain at Euro 2024, where La Roja have reached the quarterfinals. They take on hosts Germany in Stuttgart on Friday (July 5).
In three games, the 21-year-old has notched up a goal and an assist. Both goal contributions have come in the come-from-behind 4-1 Round of 16 win over Georgia in Cologne earlier this week.
Overall, Williams has three goals and six assists in 17 games across competitions for Spain since his senior first-team debut in a 2-1 home loss to Switzerland in the UEFA Nations League in September 2022.
Having gone without a goal contribution in his first major tournament at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the Barcelona, Chelsea and PSG target has made a mark on his European Championship debut in Germany as La Roja seek a record fourth title.