Premier League giants Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa are keen on Nico Williams but Athletic Bilbao’s president remains confident that the Spain international will stay at the La Liga outfit.
If Estadio Deportivo is to be believed, Aston Villa triggered the £43 million release clause in the winger’s contract over the summer, while offering Nico Williams a cool £115,000-a-week at Villa Park.
But whoever said loyalty is dead in the modern game?
Williams opted to stay put at the San Mames instead, Villa turning their attention to Moussa Diaby.
A tally of four assists from seven appearances at the start of the new campaign mean the rumours are not going anywhere, however, 90Min reporting that Liverpool, Arsenal and table-topping Tottenham have now joined Villa in sending scouts to the Basque country.
Not that Jon Uriarte, Athletic’s president, is losing any sleep just yet.
Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham join Nico Williams race
“(The rumours are) a recurring theme. In Bilbao, we have peace of mind. We want an attractive project for Nico and other players, as with another puppy Unai Gomez,” Uriarte tells DAZN.
Williams’ current contract expires next summer. Uriarte, however, remains convinced that the younger brother of Athletic talisman Inaki Williams will put pen to paper and commit his immediate future to the club.
“We trust that Nico will find the project attractive, and we think that’s how it’s going to be,” the president adds. “His family is loyal to Athletic. (Staying here) is the best for his career.
“As for possible rumours, we have no idea.”
Potential Mo Salah replacement
Liverpool’s interest comes at a time in which Mo Salah’s future is shrouded in doubt, amid interest from Saudi Arabia and Al-Ittihad. Jurgen Klopp’s side had reportedly sounded out West Ham United forward Jarrod Bowen too, and Athletic will be hoping that Williams takes a leaf out of his book while putting pen to paper on a new, long-term deal.
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