Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde is hoping to see Nico Williams stay at the La Liga club for ‘many years’ amid interest from Premier League giants Liverpool, speaking to AS.
Goodbye Neco Williams, hello, erm, Nico Williams?
After selling the Welsh right-back to Nottingham Forest over the summer, Liverpool are reportedly keeping a very close eye on Williams’ near-namesake; a jet-heeled, increasingly ruthless attacker who is already shaping up to be one of 2022/23’s breakthrough stars.
Nico Williams had taken 41 games to score his maiden La Liga goal. Now, he’s on a run of three in three, inspiring London bus puns-a-plenty with his latest strike during Friday’s 4-0 thrashing of newly-promoted Almeria.
This, coupled with Nico’s late assist for Alvaro Morata in last week’s dramatic Nations League victory over neighbours Portugal, means Valverde is likely to face more probing questions about the 20-year-old’s future in the coming months.
Liverpool are watching Athletic Bilbao forward Nico Williams
“Nico is young and everyone is eager for young people who stand out. (His sudden emergence) comes as a shock, following the two games for Spain and for the good start to the season,” beams the former Barcelona boss.
“We already know how football goes. We have to be calm. It is a long-distance race. He has a long way to go, and I hope he has many years at Athletic.
“He has many things to learn and he is fine.”
Williams, who has a £42 million release clause in his contract, likens his game to that of Neymar, Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe, and has been labelled ‘practically unstoppable’ and an ‘incredible’ talent by older brother Inaki.
Per AS, Liverpool have been watching him some time. Though Athletic are not going to let one of their most talented academy graduates in years leave without a fight.
“We are calm. We must work to ensure that these players remain with us for their entire career. And, for this, we need Athletic to be a top-level team,” explains president Jon Uriarte.
“It is an enormous satisfaction (to see Nico make his Spain debut). When someone as young as Nico emerges, a product of Lezama (Athletic’s academy), I am very happy.
“But you have to keep your feet on the ground. He has just started. There will be ups and downs.”
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