According to The Athletic, Newcastle United were reportedly keeping a close eye on young Athletic Bilbao winger, Nico Williams in January as an alternative to Anthony Gordon.
Gordon was, of course, signed for £45m in the end, but after a lengthy transfer saga in the summer, there was no guarantee that he was going to leave Everton in January. Luckily, Newcastle had a contingency plan in place in the shape of Williams.
The 20-year-old has been making waves in Spain, and his impressive displays for Bilbao have not gone unnoticed across Europe
Aston Villa reportedly made a club-record bid for the young star last month, but their approach was rejected by the Basque club who want to keep hold of their young star.
Bilbao’s strict transfer policy means that they never want to let their young gems go for cheap, and Williams would be tough to sign.
Williams, who is versatile enough to play on both flanks, is highly rated by many in Spain, and his pace, directness and creative ability make him a great fit for this Newcastle team.
Factor in that he’s only 20 and has plenty of room to improve, and this is right in the wheelhouse of the type of signings Newcastle have been making in recent months.
Despite signing Gordon, The Magpies will undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on his progress over the coming months, and who knows? Perhaps a summer move could be on the cards as they look to flesh out their squad even further.
Whether or not Gordon proves to be a hit remains to be seen, but if he doesn’t live up to expectations on Tyneside, it may not be too long before the Magpies make a move for Williams.
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