Premier League duo Liverpool and Aston Villa like Nico Williams but one Athletic Bilbao team-mate is desperate to see the Spain international stick around at the La Liga outfit.
The younger brother of Athletico icon Inaki; 20-year-old Nico has taken his game to a whole new level in recent months. One of the rising stars of the Spanish national team, a tally of seven goals and six assists at club level has made a mockery of previous concerns over his end product.
Aston Villa failed with a club-record £45 million bid in January (Daily Mail). But, with Unai Emery hoping to bring in a goalscoring wideman – regardless of Bertrand Traore’s stunning late winner against Leicester City in midweek – a new approach for Williams is expected this summer.
There is also interest from Newcastle United, Liverpool and more (The Athletic).
Aston Villa, Liverpool and Newcastle like La Liga star Nico Williams
“Nico is not the same as a kid from Bilbao Athletic (the academy). Nico has many more chances to play in any club. We already know the quality he has,” says team-mate Gorka Guruzeta, via Estadio Deportivo.
“He is aware of what he has here and what he could find elsewhere; pressure, titles, (a bigger) salary. Each player has (ambitions) he wants (to achieve) in his life.
“For me, I hope he stays because we can help (him) a lot with everything.”
The jet-heeled Williams is out of contract in the summer of 2024. Athletic Bilbao have reportedly not even begun talks over an extension; fears growing at San Mames that one of the most exciting young forwards in European football could be on his way out the door before he has even scratched the surface of his potential.
“In one-on-ones, he is practically unstoppable,” elder sibling Inaki Williams explains of a man who likens his style to that of Kylian Mbappe.
“(His rise) is incredible. He is showing that he is (improving), he is gaining experience. In front of goal, he is improving a lot.
“He is a talent. A rough diamond in need of polishing. He has a lot of room for improvement and hopefully he can continue to improve.”
Liverpool certainly looked like a team in need of some attacking thrust during Tuesday’s 0-0 draw at Chelsea.
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