Why Athletic’s Release Clause Winger Is Back on Liverpool’s Radar
Every transfer window seems to produce one story that just won’t go away, and for Liverpool this summer that story is Nico Williams. The Spain international’s name has cropped up again as the Reds continue hunting for attacking reinforcements following Mohamed Salah’s departure, and honestly, we can’t blame anyone for feeling a sense of deja vu here.
Our take is that Bradley Barcola remains the more likely arrival at Anfield, but that hasn’t stopped Liverpool keeping tabs on the Athletic Club winger, who has spent much of the last two years being linked with a move away from San Mames without it ever quite happening.
A Familiar Name Resurfaces
According to Ekrem Konur, Liverpool have renewed their interest in the 24-year-old, though crucially they are not currently the frontrunners. Arsenal, he reports, have made fresh contact with Athletic Club, with sporting director Andrea Berta looking into whether a deal can be structured this summer.
Central to any deal is the winger’s release clause, which sits at £77m, a fee Konur suggests both Arsenal and other Premier League sides could feasibly pay if they decide the gamble is worth taking.
The Barcelona Deal That Never Was
It wasn’t long ago that Williams looked destined for Barcelona, only for the Catalan club to instead tie him down to a decade long contract that runs until 2035, itself containing that same £77m get out clause that has kept his suitors interested.
His numbers back up the hype in patches. Eighteen goal involvements in 31 La Liga appearances during 2023/24 and a starring role in Spain’s EURO 2024 win built his reputation as one of the continent’s most exciting young wide players. Since then, though, production has cooled considerably. Five goals and five assists in 2024/25, followed by six goals and four assists this past season, and he has never hit double figures for goals in all competitions in a single campaign.
Our Verdict
There’s no doubting the raw tools. Searing pace, sharp footwork, and the sort of unpredictability that unsettles full backs. Whether that translates into the end product Liverpool need to replace twelve goals and ten assists from Salah is another question entirely, and one that £77m won’t necessarily answer on its own. For now, this looks like exactly what it was last time around: an interesting name to file away rather than a deal that’s close to happening.