Nico Williams omission sparks fresh Barcelona transfer hope

Tom Weber

Updated: 9 Aug 2024 09:13 CDT
3 min read

Mikel Merino, Dani Olmo, Nico Williams — © IMAGO/FootballTransfers

Nico Williams has been omitted from Athletic Club's pre-season trip to Germany.

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Despite the Spain star seemingly confirming his decision to remain at his boyhood club in Bilbao in a social media video recently, links with Barcelona have not died down.

Williams had been the Blaugrana's top target, but they eventually shifted their focus when it became increasingly unlikely that they would be able to snap him up. Since then, Dani Olmo has arrived in a deal potentially worth €62 million, leaving Barcelona short on funds.

However, that has not stopped speculation from continuing. On Thursday, it was revealed that the club brass in Catalunya believe that Williams was the victim of a 'hoax' and that he was forced to record that social media video in which he said that he was looking forward to the news season.

Even Florian Plettenberg of Sky Germany has now reported that Barcelona still retain faint hope of being able to sign Williams this summer despite their dire economic situation, his steep price and his apparent desire to remain at Athletic Club.

Omission sparks fresh links

As a result, the Catalan press has lapped up Athletic Club's decision to omit Williams from their short trip to Germany to face VfB Stuttgart in a pre-season friendly.

Williams only returned to training earlier this week, six days ahead of schedule, and the Basque outfit want their golden boy to be well-rested ahead of the new season, hence the decision to leave him in Bilbao.

However, Spanish media insists that there is still a chance, albeit a slim one, for Barcelona to sign Williams this summer. The Blaugrana are refusing to throw in the towel, knowing full well that they need reinforcements on the wing.

Though Olmo can play there - and he might well have to given the wealth of midfield options (when fit) - he is not a natural winger, so questions have been asked of his arrival and whether signing him was a more urgent need to bringing in someone like Williams.