Spain and Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams reportedly tells Barcelona he wants to join the Catalan giants before the transfer deadline.
Barcelona have reportedly received a boost in their bid to sign Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams.
The Blaugrana recently bolstered Hansi Flick‘s attacking options with the €60m (£51m) addition of Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig.
Having secured Olmo’s signature, Barcelona are seemingly set to turn their focus to signing his Spain teammate Williams.
The Catalan giants have been linked with the 22-year-old for the majority of the summer transfer window, but it was recently reported that Williams was leaning towards staying with Athletic for at least one more season.
However, Barcelona are not willing to give up their pursuit and are still pushing to sign Williams before the transfer window shuts on August 30.
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Williams makes Barcelona decision
Williams has a €55m (£47m) in his Athletic contract and it appears that he is ready to leave the Basque club before the transfer deadline.
According to Sport, Williams has told Barcelona that he wants to complete a move to the Catalan giants this summer.
The report claims that Barcelona are convinced they will sign Williams and are hopeful they can wrap up the deal within the next week.
However, Barcelona will have to raise the necessary funds so they can complete Williams’s signing while meeting La Liga’s strict financial fair play rules.
The Blaugrana are set to sell Julian Araujo to Bournemouth, while Clement Lenglet, Mikayil Faye and Vitor Roque could all be moved on.
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Barcelona keen to reunite Williams with Yamal
Barcelona are determined to reunite Williams with Lamine Yamal after the pair played starring roles in Spain’s Euro 2024 success.
Yamal operated from the right flank in Germany, while Spain boss Luis de la Fuente utilised Williams on the left flank.
Williams scored two goals and provided one assist during Spain’s triumphant campaign as carried his success at club level onto the international stage.
Last season, the winger netted eight goals and contributed 19 assists in 37 appearances for Athletic, helping Ernesto Valverdes’s side win the Copa del Rey and finish fifth in La Liga.