Liverpool have entered the race to sign Athletic Club de Bilbao superstar Nico Williams, after he expressed an interest to move this summer, according to TEAMtalk.
The Reds have had a difficult campaign this season, and currently face a battle to qualify for next season's Champions League via their Premier League finish, as they sit sixth in the table, three points behind Man Utd in fourth.
But despite a record-breaking summer transfer window last year which saw over £400m spent on the likes of Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, the club are planning for more attacking reinforcements to arrive this summer, and the Spaniard is a target.
Nico Williams
Nico Williams
Williams, who has been described as 'absolutely frightening', was expected to depart his boyhood club last summer amid strong interest from Barcelona and Arsenal, before surprising everyone by signing a new ten-year contract to stay at San Mames.
That deal also took his release clause from €60m (£51m) to €100m (£87m), but now the winger is looking to explore options away from the Spanish outfit ahead of the summer, as he is growing frustrated with their poor performances on the pitch and their failure to match his ambitions.
A new report states that the player's representatives have contacted several clubs, including Liverpool, through intermediaries to make them aware of his situation and stance, and a move away is becoming a reality this summer.
Liverpool Plot £87m Bid
Nico Williams in action for Athletic Bilbao
The new release clause is something that has put some doubt into some interested clubs, but they have not completely written off a move at that price.
It's understood that all the clubs who have been contacted will consider a move by weighing up the player's age, the price, and the value on the transfer market for other options at that price.
Liverpool are expected to lose Federico Chiesa in the summer after another season of minimal game time, while the future of Mohamed Salah is also up in the air amid strong interest from Saudi Arabia again, and it could be that Williams is brought in as a direct replacement for the Egyptian.
GIVEMESPORT asked ChatGPT if the 23-year-old would be a good replacement for the legendary forward, and this was its response:
Nico Williams offers pace, direct dribbling, and width — fits a high-tempo system.
Less goal output than Mohamed Salah, so goals would need redistributing.
Age profile suits long-term rebuild at Liverpool.
Not a like-for-like replacement; more of a stylistic shift.
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He could be on the move this summer.