Barcelona is making another move for Nico Williams. The Athletic Club winger has always been a player favored by the sporting management, and now he has become the number one target to strengthen the left wing. Hansi Flick believes that Raphinha performs better in interior positions and has specifically requested a winger who can break the balance on the outside, a profile in which Nico fits perfectly.
The footballer, moreover, is determined to play for Barça. Despite having significant offers from Bayern Munich and several Premier League clubs, his priority is to wear the blaugrana jersey and share a locker room with friends like Lamine Yamal or Balde. There have already been meetings between his agent and Deco, and the response from the Catalan club was clear: they want him, but first they need to sell.
Absolute priority, but with conditions
Athletic Club doesn't want to negotiate and refers directly to the release clause: €58 million (58 millones de euros) plus another €6 million (6 millones de euros) in taxes. While Barça can pay that amount, it can't do so all at once. The club needs to complete a major sale to undertake the operation, and that's where the complexity lies.
All sources indicate that Nico Williams will earn around €12 million (12 millones de euros) gross per season. This amounts to about €6 million (6 millones de euros) net, which would place him in a middle range within the team's salary scale.
Moreover, his arrival at Camp Nou would come with a lower salary than he received at San Mamés. With financial conditions much lower than those he demanded from clubs like Bayern Munich or Chelsea.
Ronald Araújo, who has a good reputation in Europe, and Ter Stegen, with interest from Türkiye, are the main assets. Flick considers Araújo expendable because he has Cubarsí, Christensen, Íñigo Martínez, and Eric García for the central defense. For that reason, a departure isn't ruled out if a good offer arrives.
Only with one or two transfers of that level will Barça be able to go after Nico, who, meanwhile, is waiting. The player has decided not to move forward in other negotiations until he knows if the blaugrana club can go after him.
There are alternatives on the table
If, in the end, Nico Williams can't wait or Barça doesn't manage to raise funds, Deco already has options B and C activated. The first is Luis Díaz from Liverpool, a deal valued at around €60 million (60 millones de euros). His talent and ability to break the balance are appreciated, although his age complicates the profitability of the signing.
Rashford, meanwhile, has offered himself and dreams of playing for Barça, although his inconsistency raises doubts. As a last alternative, Ivan Perisic appears, who already worked with Flick and is a guarantee in terms of experience and work on the wing. The club is clear about the objective: to sign a winger, and Nico is the first option.