Athletic Bilbao legend Mikel Balenziaga admits he has no idea whether or not La Liga star Nico Williams will be joining Premier League outfit Aston Villa in a potential £43 million deal.
In a Spain squad chock full of balletic, diminutive playmakers, Nico Williams provides a very different sort of threat. A powertool amid the paintbrushes; the jet-heeled forward has arguably inherited that ‘joker in the pack’ role from Adama Traore for La Roja, and a big-money move to England would do presumably Williams’ hopes of earning a starting spot at next summer’s European Championships no harm at all.
The Pamplona-born 20-year-old, according to The Athletic, is high on Aston Villa’s wishlist. Unai Emery is a big fan. And the recent appointment of former Sevilla director Monchi – a man very well connected in the Spanish game – should give the Midlands giants a leg-up.
Williams scored nine goals and set up six more for Athletico Bilbao in 2022/23, stepping out of the shadow of his older brother Inaki.
And Balenziaga, the 35-year-old San Mames icon, admits he is none the wiser about whether or not a player who models his game on Kylian Mbappe will be sticking around for another year at the Basque giants.
Aston Villa could move for La Liga star Nico Williams
“Don’t know. Nico has one more year on his contract. And I don’t know what he has come from outside what is true and what is a lie,” Balenziaga tells Mundo Deportivo when asked specifically about those Aston Villa links.
“We’ll see what happens in the coming weeks.”
Williams has a £43 million release clause in his contract. Aston Villa are reportedly willing to offer him a £115,000-a-week contract in the Midlands. A deal which could bring and end to the claret-and-blue careers of Bertrand Traore and/or Leon Bailey.
“In one-on-ones, he is practically unstoppable,” Inaki says of his younger sibling. “(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. He has a lot of room for improvement and hopefully he can continue to improve.”
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