Barcelona, Arsenal, and Chelsea Face New Competition for Athletic Club Winger
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has reportedly entered the fray to sign Nico Williams, adding a new twist to one of the summer’s biggest transfer sagas. The Athletic Club winger has been a standout performer, particularly following his breakout at Euro 2024, making him a top target for several elite clubs, including Barcelona, Arsenal, and Chelsea.
Williams, 22, has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona, who have been making significant progress in talks with his camp. The player is reportedly inclined to stay in Spain, but Barcelona has informed him that they can only complete his signing in August due to ongoing negotiations and financial considerations.
Despite his relatively affordable €58 million release clause, Arsenal and Chelsea have hesitated to meet the financial demands, keeping their interest but holding back from formal offers. Now, according to The Athletic, PSG has made a strong entry into the race for Williams. The French giants are actively seeking a replacement for Kylian Mbappe and have been evaluating several options, including French wonderkid Desire Doue from Stade Rennais.
PSG has already launched a €45 million offer for the 19-year-old Doue, but Rennes is holding out for €60 million, the amount they received from Manchester City for Jeremy Doku last summer. This high price tag has led PSG to consider alternatives, with the more proven Williams emerging as a viable option. The report indicates that PSG has made ‘tentative contact’ with Williams’ representatives and is now in ‘strong pursuit’ of the Spain international.
Luis Enrique, PSG’s head coach, played a pivotal role in Williams’ career, handing him his senior debut for the Spanish national team in September 2022 and taking him to the Qatar World Cup, where Williams featured seven times.
Renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that Barcelona remains confident in securing Williams’ signature, but the emergence of PSG as a competitor complicates the situation. The Catalan club’s management is now facing added pressure to finalize the deal swiftly to fend off PSG’s interest.
As the summer transfer window heats up, the battle for Nico Williams is poised to be one of the defining stories, with his next destination still very much up in the air.
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