Liverpool, Manchester United, and Real Madrid are keen on signing 20-year-old Spanish international Nico Williams from Athletic Club.
A report from Fichajes claims that Real Madrid have joined the transfer chase for Nico Williams along with Liverpool and Manchester United. It remains to be seen whether they can lure the 20-year-old Spanish international away from Athletic Club.
Nico Williams has been quite impressive for Athletic Club this season, and he has scored four goals and picked up four assists across all competitions. The youngster is primarily a right-sided winger, but he can operate on the left flank as well. His versatility will be a bonus for his suitors if they manage to sign him.
Real Madrid could use a quality right-winger like him. Carlo Ancelotti has been using Federico Valverde in the right-wing position to good effect this season, but the Uruguayan is primarily a central midfielder. Williams’s arrival will solve that problem for Los Blancos. That is because the 20-year-old can then compete with Rodrygo Goes for the berth.
Meanwhile, Liverpool, who showed interest in the summer, do not have any alternative to Mohamed Salah. And the Reds have had to use Harvey Elliott as an inverted attacking midfielder on the right flank at times.
As for Manchester United, it would be quite surprising if they decided to make a move for the 20-year-old Spanish international. They have recently signed Antony from Ajax, and the Brazilian plays as a right winger.
Antony is likely to be the first-choice starter at Old Trafford given the massive amount of money Erik ten Hag spent on him. So Nico Williams will have to be a backup option, and the youngster might not be keen on that.
The 20-year-old is a key starter for Athletic Club and he needs to join a team where he will be offered a similar role. A move to Real Madrid or Liverpool seems far more suitable for the Spanish international on paper. Working with world-class managers like Ancelotti and Jurgen Klopp could accelerate his development and help him fulfil his potential.
He’s no more likely to get in the team ahead of Salah than he is Antony, so he’d play second fiddle to either if he was to sign for either club.
So that leaves only Madrid, and that’s only if Ancelotti wants to move Valverde.