Liverpool are in the market for multiple wide attackers this summer and Nico Williams could be theirs to lose as Barcelona’s interest is no longer as advanced as it once was.
Mohamed Salah is set to leave the club this summer, and the Liverpool recruitment team now has the unenviable task of replacing one of the best attackers of the Premier League era.
In his time at Anfield, the Egyptian forward has scored 257 goals while also providing 122 assists. He has long since surpassed the likes of Luis Suarez and Fernando Torres, doing what they couldn’t in terms of silverware as well.
Liverpool will not see his like for quite some time, but the Reds have a habit of always finding a talismanic forward to lead their line.
Some would have you believe that Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams has the potential to be just that.
??? This goal from Nico Williams still does not make sense… ?
pic.twitter.com/OmrmRayf6b
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) April 20, 2026
Latest transfer news on Nico Williams is a boost to Liverpool’s long-standing interest
According to a report from Spanish outlet Estadio Deportivo, Barcelona are no longer as advanced in their pursuit of Williams as they have been in recent years.
The Catalonians have seemingly taken a step back regarding the Basque attacker, opening the door for the likes of Liverpool to tempt him with a move to the Premier League.
The report from Estadio Deportivo goes in-depth on the reasons why Barca cannot afford to sign Williams.
The most poignant bit reads: “Athletic Club surprised everyone last July by announcing Nico Williams’ contract extension until 2035, thus ending the summer saga surrounding his move to FC Barcelona, ??which had seemed all but certain. The new contract, signed by the Basque club, aimed to secure his futureby increasing his release clause by 50%.This figure of around €90 million (£77m), however, remains affordable for Europe’s top clubs if the player continues to develop as expected in the short term.
“Quite the opposite is true for Barcelona, ??whose financial problems have practically ruled out Nico Williams, who was right in his decision, as time has shown.”
His £77m asking price is a bit much, however, for a player with just 35 goals in 197 appearances.
Liverpool have been linked with the likes of Yan Diomande and Bradley Barcola, who would be far more suitable options for the Reds.
? ???: Nico Williams is NOT happy.
He has been taken off and scored only 1 goal in his last 18 games. pic.twitter.com/Tb59OA8S9g
— The Touchline | ? (@TouchlineX) April 25, 2026
What do Liverpool need on the wings?
It’s clear there will be no signing this summer that can match what Salah has accomplished in his nine years at Liverpool.
Michael Olise is perhaps the only wide player who would constitute a like-for-like replacement, but Bayern have made it clear that they will not sell the 24-year-old.
Short of signing a world-class winger with elite 1v1 dribbling and high attacking output, Liverpool need wingers that will take them back to their counter-attacking best.
This season, when Salah has been absent – whether due to AFCON or Slot benching him – Liverpool have looked slow and aimless in transition.
Cody Gakpo, for all his talents, is not the player you want leading counterattacks with Premier League defenders cottoning onto his predictable attacking behaviour.
Since selling Luis Diaz, Liverpool’s counterattacking abilities have declined, and they now need the likes of Barcola and Diomande to turn that around if they want to return to the Liverpool Way.