La Liga heavyweights Barcelona are reportedly worried about Arsenal and Chelsea’s interest in Athletic Club attacker Nico Williams.
According to reputed Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Nico Williams is the subject of interest from Barcelona. However, the Catalan giants are worried about Arsenal and Chelsea also being keen on signing the 22-year-old Athletic Club attacker, especially considering they do not want to trigger his release clause.
Romano said, “Barca want to go for Nico Williams. Barca want to be fast because they know that the English top clubs, Chelsea, Arsenal, are keeping close eye to the situation of Nico, but they don’t want to pay that big money of release clause, the commission, salary, so Barca want to win this race on the timing. They want to be faster and Barca are prepared starting from next week to advance and push on this deal.”
Nico Williams has established himself as one of the best young prospects in the world since breaking into the first-team squad at Athletic Club. The Spaniard has been exceptional in the last 12 months, contributing to 27 goals in 37 appearances across all competitions by finding the back of the net eight times and providing nine assists.
A man in demand
The Spanish international then made his mark in his first UEFA European Championship with La Roja, scoring in the final as they beat England to return to the summit of European football after 12 years. Meanwhile, Nico Williams’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe, including Barcelona, Arsenal, and Chelsea.
Joan Laporta is driving Barcelona’s interest in Nico Williams. The Catalan giants want to recreate the wide attacking pairing of Williams and Lamine Yamal from the national team. Barcelona will advance the move to sign the 22-year-old Spaniard this week. However, their reluctance to trigger his release clause might pose a problem.
Recent reports have claimed that Arsenal and Chelsea are ready to trigger Nico Williams’s release clause. That explains Barcelona’s concerns, considering Arsenal and Chelsea can potentially break the bank to sign the Spanish international in the summer transfer window.
It will be interesting to see if Arsenal and Chelsea can turn Williams’s head, considering his heart is set on joining Barcelona in the summer transfer window. Despite the Catalan club’s reluctance, they are in the pole position to land the Spaniard.
