Robin Bairner
Nico Williams, Athletic Club, 2024/25
© IMAGO
Nico Williams remains hot property in the transfer market, with many of Europe’s major clubs following the Athletic Club attacker.
Arsenal and Chelsea have been following the winger throughout 2024, but it was Barcelona who came closest to landing the player during the summer.
Since then, interest from Manchester United has emerged, with the Red Devils thought to have lined up the 22-year-old star as a potential replacement should they successfully offload Marcus Rashford. Aston Villa are also heavily linked with a move for him.
But the landscape around Nico William’s transfer could be about to shift dramatically, with Real Madrid now looking to land the forward, according to Todo Fichajes.
Indeed, the report claims that the player is now ready to put off committing his future to a Premier League club off the back of this interest.
“With the younger Williams brother now having the opportunity to join Real Madrid, he is postponing his departure from Athletic, despite having very important offers on the table from the Premier League, with Aston Villa at the head,” TodoFichajes claims.
Nico Williams, Athletic Club
© IMAGO - Nico Williams, Athletic Club
Insurance against losing Vini Jr or Rodrygo
Real Madrid appear to be well stocked on the left of their attack, where Nico Williams typically plays. In Vini Jr and Kylian Mbappe, they have perhaps the two outstanding left wingers in football, yet there remains a fear that they could lose the former, while the ambition of the club appears to be to make the Frenchman a full-time No.9.
So while Los Blancos taking an interest in the Athletic star is surprising at this juncture, until the future of Vini has been sorted out, it remains valid.
The Brazil international has long been linked with a potential move to the Saudi Pro League. With a contract that expires in 2027, that could become a reality in six or 18 months. Vinicius Jr is allowing himself to be courted, while the same can be said of team-mate Rodrygo.
With this in mind, Los Blancos are eyeing Nico Williams, who has a release clause worth just €58 million in his Athletic contract.