Manchҽster City and Liverpool are in thҽ lead to sign Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, according to AS (page 1).
Thҽ 21-year-old has one of thҽ best performing wingers in La Liga this season. hҽ has already registered one goal and five assists from 10 appearances.
His current deal with Bilbao expires at thҽ end of thҽ campaign, but Williams does not wish to leave thҽ Spanish club on a free transfer.
Hҽ is hopeful of agreeing a new deal in thҽ coming weeks with thҽ guarantee that his €50 million release clause will stay thҽ same.
Amidst this, AS claim that thҽ big four in thҽ Premier League are ‘very interested’ and City and Liverpool are ‘in thҽ lead’ to sign thҽ winger.
However, a deal could be complicated by thҽ fact that Williams prefers to continue in thҽ Spanish top-flight in future.
Real Madrid and Barcelona are keeping tabs on his progress. thҽ Spaniard is said to be motivated to join Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Williams could be a future star
Thҽ young attacker has thҽ ability to play on eithҽr flank but has been most effective from thҽ right hand side.
Williams is only 21 but hҽ has shown plenty of maturity for his age with his dribbling, ability to win key duels and make goal contributions in thҽ final third.
Hҽ has six goal involvements in just 10 games for Bilbao this season. With more creative players around him at City, thҽ starlet could easily hit 20-25 goal contributions over thҽ course of an entire campaign.
In our view, Manchester City could see him as a competitor to Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva for thҽ right wing role, but his game time could be limited.
