New Nico Williams DEADLINE: Club ‘not throwing the towel in’ over summer transfer

Robin Bairner

10 Aug 2024 12:30 BST
2 min read

Nico Williams, Spain v Italy, Euro 2024 — © IMAGO

Nico Williams may have told Barcelona that he intends to spend the 2024/25 season with Athletic Club, but the Camp Nou side are not taking no for an answer yet and have taken action that will concern his other suitors.

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Chelsea, Arsenal and PSG have all chased the Spain star this summer but have been unable to prise him away from the Bilbao outfit.

While Barcelona have appeared Nico’s favoured destination, their financial problems have hampered the prospect of a deal and they have instead signed Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig.

Current ETV

Nico Williams

M (L)

Athletic

Nico Williams

M (L)

Athletic

ETV Range

€37.2M - €62M

Although the winger appears to have committed himself to Athletic for one more campaign, according to Mundo Deportivo, the Catalans are still holding out for a deal before the end of the transfer window. Indeed, they have given him a fresh deadline of 24 August to make his mind up if he wants to trade clubs this summer.

Why has this date little under a week before Transfer Deadline Day been chosen? Simply because that is the day that Barcelona will travel to face Athletic Club in LaLiga.

“Barcelona are not throwing the towel in for the moment because they believe Nico’s arrival would add quality on the left wing of a team that is obliged to fight for titles,” the report says.

“This is a strategic season, the penultimate of Joan Laporta's mandate as president, and going two consecutive seasons without a trophy would leave an unstable position for the board as critics of the regime are already taking positions for the 2026 elections.”

READ MORE: Latest Barcelona transfer rumours

Barca still bullish over Nico deal

Mundo Deportivo further states that Barcelona are confident they will be able to get their finances in such order to allow them to move for Nico Williams before the end of the summer.

His release fee is €58 million, and this is what Athletic will demand for a sale.

This will involve fresh sponsorship deals and potentially the sale of players, such as Mika Faye, who could join Ligue 1 side Rennes for around €10m.

While Chelsea’s imminent signing of Pedro Neto likely rules them out of any future fight for Nico, Arsenal and PSG will be studying this development closely and hoping Barcelona are unable to strike a deal.