- 13 hours ago
Major Nico Williams transfer announcement: We can make it happen!
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 8 Jul 2024 16:29 BST
- 4 min read
Nico Williams could soon land his dream transfer, with Barcelona president Joan Laporta confident that the Catalans will soon be able to land the Spain Euro 2024 star.
The 21-year-old has been closely tracked by a number of clubs this summer, and while Arsenal and Chelsea retain hope that they will be able to complete a deal to sign him, the Camp Nou side are bullish over their prospects of beating the Premier League outfits to a player who has dazzled this summer in Germany.
Reports have indicated that Williams’ desire is to remain in Spain, and with his pathway at Real Madrid blocked by both Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe, Barcelona remained the only option for him.
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Current ETV
Nico Williams
M (L)
Nico Williams
M (L)
Athletic
ETV Range
€34.2M - €57M
Doubts over the Catalans’ financial state seemed to have blocked this possibility. This is particularly the case as two €100 million sales have stalled.
Early in July, however, it was announced that he had become Barcelona's transfer priority.
READ MORE: Five players who could join Barcelona this summer
Laport fires Nico Williams warning to Arsenal and Chelsea
Nevertheless, president Laporta has issued a defiant message on Radio Catalunya indicating that Barca are about to be unleashed on the transfer market.
This is bad news for Arsenal and Chelsea, who face a big task persuading Nico Williams to move to England should Barcelona trigger his release clause, which is set at the value of around €58m. With an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €45.6m, this does not look a hefty figure for a club with the financial clout to make the move.
And Laporta says Barcelona are one of those.
“Obviously I like him, a lot. But here we have to let those who have the responsibility work, and Deco is working to make the signings that he and Flick have discussed, and I hope to have good news,” he said.
“Today we can afford to sign Nico Williams. We can afford a signing like Nico’s. It is the result of the work that has been done over the years to get to this point, we could afford a signing of this level.
“It has been three very intense years, with many things to do, but we have worked very well and we are happy with the work because the club’s finances are recovering and we will soon have good news in this regard.
“We are working to confirm the club’s economic recovery and there are a series of operations that we have worked on and that we will soon be able to announce. It is very comforting to be able to finish this process that has taken us three years and I hope that we return to normality.”
Barcelona will also face a challenge funding Nico Williams’ salary, which stands around €10.5m per year at Athletic Club, but from Laporta’s words, it appears they are confident of supporting such a wage.
