Unai Emery wants Aston Villa to sign 20-year-old Athletic Club winger Nico Williams, whose release clause is worth €50 million.
According to MARCA, Aston Villa are interested in acquiring the services of Nico Williams. Unai Emery is a big fan of the player and wants him at the club ahead of next season. The Spanish international has a release clause worth €50 million in his contract with Athletic Club.
The Aston Villa manager wanted to bring Nico Williams to the club back in January. But the player wanted to continue at Athletic Club until the end of the season and then decided his future. As a result, the Spanish international rejected to opportunity and continued in Spain.
Emery’s priority heading into the transfer window was the sign Marco Asensio. But, he has failed to win the race for the Real Madrid winger, who is joining Paris Saint-German in a Bosman move. With Asensio out of reach, the Spanish manager has made Williams his number-one priority.
The 20-year-old winger is one of the best young talents in Spain, and he will surely be a great addition to the Aston Villa ranks. Emery has done wonders ever since he took charge of the club.
Aston Villa were struggling for survival when he joined them. But the 51-year-old managed to turn things around and helped them qualify for Europe. Aston Villa have gone from strength to strength under Emery, and he is keen on helping them take the next step.
The Spanish manager believes they need a new winger on the right-hand side. And Williams seems to be a great fit for the club. The 20-year-old’s contract at the Athletic Club runs out in the summer of 2024. With only a year left on his deal, the Spanish club have offered him a contract extension.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa are ready to trigger the €50 million release clause on his current contract. The 20-year-old is yet to make a decision. He is being offered around €7 million per season by the English club, a figure that is well above what Athletic are offering in the new deal. As a result, Villa have a realistic chance of prising him away ahead of next season.
Williams have been doing wonders for both club and country for a while now. And, acquiring the Spanish international will surely help Aston Villa’s cause. Meanwhile, there are other clubs who might make Villa’s task a touch more difficult.
