Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is reportedly determined to sign Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao this summer, with financial details of our potential offer being touted.
Williams, 20, is regarded as one of the top prospects in Europe given the ability and potential that he possesses, and he showed signs of development and improvement last season with nine goals and six assists in 43 appearances.
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Having been capped eight times for Spain already, it’s clear that he has a big future ahead of him, and it seems as though Emery is keen to bring him to Villa to oversee his progression moving forward.
According to Marca, the Villa boss is ‘determined’ to sign Williams and has identified him as a priority signing this summer, and it’s suggested that we’re willing to pay his €50m release clause.
Given his contract expires in June 2024 though, it’s hoped that we can perhaps negotiate that fee down if Williams doesn’t intend on signing a new deal, but the report suggests that we’re ready to spend big on the youngster to land his signature.
It’s added that he does have a renewal offer from Athletic, but he’s edging towards an exit with Villa said to be willing to offer him a contract worth €7m a year, which is significantly more than what his current club can offer.
In turn, it remains to be seen what he decides to do with his future, as Marca also note how Villa were keen to sign him in January but he ultimately opted to stay until the end of the season, and so time will tell if he is now ready to begin a new chapter in his young career.
Emery has made no secret of his desire to add a right-sided attacking player as he told the media so at the start of the year, but with Williams opting to stay in Bilbao in January, Bertrand Traore emerged as a short-term solution last season and we successfully went on to qualify for the Europa Conference League.
However, Villa are expected to be busy this summer in strengthening the squad as we look to compete on multiple fronts next year, and hopefully Williams will become part of the group in the coming weeks to add a real threat to our attacking play and a new dynamic in the final third with his pace, technical ability, creativity and eye for goal.