Liverpool are believed to be leading the race to sign Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams in the summer transfer window, according to an exciting new update.
It looks as though the Reds may have missed out on bringing in Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United, with Fabrizio Romano saying a move to Barcelona is close on Wednesday night:
“BREAKING: Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, here we go! Official bid accepted now by Newcastle board and Saudi owners. €70m fixed fee plus add-ons to bring final package over €80m for NUFC. Gordon set to travel this week for medical and contract signing at FCB.”
Liverpool will now have to look at alternative left wing options moving forward this summer, and El Nacional report that they are now in pole position to sign Williams from Bilbao.
The 23-year-old, who has a good chance of winning the 2026 World Cup with Spain this summer, could cost as much as £69.3m, and the “Anfield team has already had conversations.”
Nico Williams could be a stunning signing for Liverpool
It is a shame for Liverpool to miss out on Gordon, considering he is a boyhood Reds supporters who would add pace, end product and versatility to the attack, but Williams could be even better for them.
He excelled at Euro 2024, scoring in Spain’s final victory over England, while legendary former winger Luis Figo has spoken of his admiration for him:
“There are a lot of players I like. I’d definitely sign Nico Williams. He’s a gem. And in the end, the price, considering what we’re paying today, seems reasonable to me. Because of his quality and also because of his youth. We’re different players. He’s a player I really like because of his position. I prefer the wingers where I’ve played. But I wasn’t as fast as him; I wish I had been. I’m speaking from a market perspective, because for value and price, I think he’s a bargain.”
Williams will be a wanted man this summer, so it won’t be easy to strike a deal, but the price tag mentioned isn’t as extreme as it could be, which seems strange considering his current Bilbao deal doesn’t expire until 2035.
He has the physical attributes to shine in the Premier League, while a tally of 37 goals and assists apiece in 199 appearances for Bilbao is a good return, and should only improve as he hits his peak years.