Barcelona are set to become major players in the transfer market once again, according to club president Joan Laporta, with a move for Nico Williams on their radar.
The Athletic Club attacker, 21, has lit up Euro 2024 with Spain and caught the attention of several clubs interested in a transfer including Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United.
Available for a reported £53million release clause, the bidding war to sign Williams is likely to start after his Euros campaign ends and Barcelona have now claimed that they can afford the fee.
“Economically speaking, we could commit to the signing of Nico Williams,” Laporta told Catalunya Radio.
“Nico's a player I like, I like him a lot. We are working with [coach Hansi] Flick on possible signings. Now we have to leave [sporting director] Deco to close the operations we are working on.
“Shortly we will be able to announce some good news with regard to the financial [issues] and we will be back within LaLiga's Fair Play limits. And that will allow further good news in terms of [signings].”
Laporta’s claims will be met with some skepticism following years of financial turmoil at Barcelona, brought on by an inflated wage bill, the Covid pandemic and the exit of Lionel Messi.
The club has been forced to register new signings at the last possible moment in recent years due to its difficulty in meeting LaLiga spending rules.
Chelsea have reportedly dropped back in the race to sign Williams but defender Marc Cucurella has revealed his efforts to persuade him to move to west London during the Euros.
“I’ve been telling him to sign for Chelsea,” said the left-back. “In the end everything depends on him, he is very young, with a lot of experience. I think he will be a great player.”
But Williams will wait until after Spain’s campaign to consider his next move, having only committed his future to Bilbao earlier this year.
“It's hard to deal with, because everyone is constantly asking you what you're going to do with your future,” he told Spanish radio station RNE last month.
“I'm a 21-year-old kid who just wants to play football. I have already said that Athletic is my home. I only recently renewed [my contract]. I am very happy.”
