Barcelona continues to adjust its sports planning for next season. While the goalkeeper position already has a name with the arrival of Joan García, now the main goal for the summer is to strengthen the left wing. In this regard, there are two names that stand out on the sports management's agenda: Nico Williams and Luis Díaz.
Both are liked, but for different reasons. The first is young, Spanish, and has a clear release clause; the second is more proven and fully to Hansi Flick's liking. However, the club's financial situation seriously limits its room for maneuver.
Luis Díaz represents a much more complicated operation due to his cost: Liverpool demands around €80 million and doesn't consider flexible payment formulas. In contrast, Nico Williams's clause (€60 million) could be activated in installments if the player is willing. Faced with this scenario, Barça has tried to look for creative formulas.
Deco offers a star
According to the latest reports, in a new attempt to sign Luis Díaz, Deco presented a €40 million offer that included Ronald Araújo in the deal. The Uruguayan center-back, who has lost prominence under Flick, already knows that the club doesn't consider him a key piece of the new project. Since January, they've been looking for a way out for him, and Liverpool is a destination the player doesn't dislike.
From the club's top management, they saw the proposal as beneficial for everyone. Barça would reduce the cost of signing Díaz and part ways with a player who is no longer in the coach's plans. Meanwhile, Liverpool would secure a defender with experience and Champions League level.
However, the response from England was negative. At Anfield, they believe the defense is well covered and that Araújo doesn't represent a significant improvement over what they already have.
Liverpool refuses
Besides the sporting criteria, there's another key reason for the rejection: Liverpool needs liquidity. The English club has made a multimillion-euro outlay for Florian Wirtz, whose signing is around €150 million. Due to that operation, they need direct income, not players in exchange, and that leaves Deco's proposed option with no way forward.
With this rejection on the table, Barça now seems closer to going after Nico Williams. The Spanish international has the approval of the coaching staff and the support of key locker room figures like Lamine Yamal. Meanwhile, Araújo is still waiting to define his future, which now seems more likely to remain at Barça.