An altogether head-turning update on the transfer saga linking Athletic Club star Nico Williams with a move to La Liga rivals Barcelona has today come to the fore online.
The name of wide-man Nico has of course dominated the Spanish media headlines across the week to date.
This comes amid mounting claims that the 22-year-old is giving serious consideration to staying put in Bilbao for the 2024/25 campaign.
At one point on the back of his electric displays at Euro 2024, it was viewed as little more than a formality that Nico would, at some point this summer, be on the move.
As much came amid widespread interest in his signature, not least from the aforementioned Barcelona.
With the exact opposite now looking the most likely outcome, though, what is the stance of the powers that be at the Camp Nou when it comes to the transfer?
Recent days had seen it widely reported that Deco and co. have all but thrown in the towel on the Spaniard’s signing.
This comes with his Athletic Club stay expected to be accompanied by a new-and-improved contract, featuring a hefty €100 million release clause.
What, though, if Williams stays put, but decides against penning a new deal?
In such a scenario, Barcelona would seemingly still be keen.
As per a report from Mundo Deportivo, a renewed assault for the signature of the explosive winger in the summer of 2025 is ‘something that is contemplated by the Blaugrana entity as long as Nico does not renew and sees his current termination clause of €58 million increased’.
Conor Laird | GSFN
