Reports out of Spain suggest Nico Williams is tempted by a move to Tottenham Hotspur, but Barcelona are also keen, and the local press believe the Catalan club will win the race for the winger.
Williams and his Athletic Bilbao side are the toast of Spain right now, having just won the Copa del Rey over the weekend. The 21-year-old provided a key assist in that cup final to help his team lift the trophy.
With six goals and 14 assists now this season (Transfermarkt), and as such, has been attracting attention from big clubs across Europe.
Tottenham were mentioned in relation to Williams last month, with reports that the Lilywhites had joined the race alongside London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea (Mirror).
More recently, Premier League clubs like Liverpool and Aston Villa have also been linked to Williams, and it is thought Spurs and their domestic competitors have ‘tempted’ the young Spaniard already (AS via Sport Witness).
Barcelona looking to seal a bargain
Now, the latest from Sport suggests Barcelona are prowling for Williams, and believe they can persuade him to join them instead of moving to the Premier League.
Williams is considered a “bargain of immense quality,” with a release clause rumoured to be around €50m (£42.8m).
Apparently, Barcelona have already made their first move to secure Williams’ signature, but they are willing to wait until next summer. That’s because Williams has harboured ambitions of winning a trophy and playing in Europe with Bilbao.
He’s already ticked the first task off the list, and Barca may be willing to let him stay there and enjoy a European campaign next season before bringing him over to Catalonia. Barcelona now believe Williams wants to join them, and are very confident they can seal the deal.
However, the fact that Bilbao would want Williams’ fee paid in full could be a stumbling block for Barcelona, while Spurs would not struggle.
Spurs Web Opinion
The only way Barcelona would win this race is if Williams wants to stay in Spain, but after winning a trophy with his boyhood club he may feel like he has done all he needs to do there. Then there’s the financial aspect, where Barca would not be able to compete with Spurs.