Free agent chase: L'pool and Aston Villa want Nico Williams

Widad September 18, 2023 0

 

Nico Williams

Among the teams looking into a deal to take Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams on a free transfer next summer are Liverpool and Aston Villa.

A number of teams are keeping an eye on Williams' position with the Spanish team since his current contract expires at the end of the current campaign. The 21-year-old has excelled since making the first squad at Bilbao, and since making his senior debut in 2022, he has won 10 caps for Spain, scoring twice.

Barcelona is reportedly interested in signing the winger as a free agent, but rumors from the Spanish daily AS suggest the Premier League may challenge the Catalans.

Aston Villa had already been linked to a move, and Liverpool is taking the winger into consideration in light of the Saudi Pro League's interest in Mohamed Salah. At the completion of the current campaign, Salah's Liverpool contract will have just 12 months left.

Williams' older brother, Inaki, is a current teammate and has made 387 appearances in his only club career with the Basque squad. Athletic Bilbao is eager to reach a new contract agreement with the highly-rated Williams.

According to the club's president, Jon Uriarte, Bilbao has not given up trying to get Williams to agree to a contract extension.

“Nico, like his family, Iñaki, his mother, are very happy in Bilbao,” he said.  “They love Athletic. They love our project . We are working hard on both sides so that he can stay.”