After a relatively quiet January transfer window, Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is expected to bring in key reinforcements this summer to bolster his squad.
The Spaniard has never wavered from his stance on signings since he arrived in October, as he has insisted that he only wants to bring in players who significantly improve the current group.
READ MORE: Alex Moreno offers insight on Emery coaching methods, Villa ambition
Alex Moreno and Jhon Duran will hopefully emerge as crucial additions, with Emery expected to implement important changes and impart his influence on the construction of the squad moving forward.
One target that was reportedly top of our list last month was Athletic Bilbao ace Nico Williams, with the Daily Mail’s Dominic King claiming that we failed with a bid to sign the 20-year-old despite being prepared to trigger his £45m [€50m] release clause, as the youngster didn’t want to leave his current club.
Now, Sport have reported that Villa will return for Williams this summer, and while Liverpool are also said to be interested, it remains to be seen who’s willing to meet that €50m release clause to initiate talks between the relevant parties.
With his current contract set to expire in June 2024, this summer is potentially a crossroads point for Williams and his long-term future, as he’ll either have to commit to Athletic, or if he can be tempted into a new experience with us, then the La Liga side will potentially have to consider a sale, or be forced to if the release clause is triggered.
Williams is enjoying a productive season thus far, scoring six goals and providing six assists in 25 appearances across all competitions, and combined with his age, potential, quality and attributes that match what Emery has openly admitted he wants to add to his Villa squad in the form of a winger, he could be the priority target that we were prepared to wait for.
Nico Williams analysis, profile and stats
With nine goals and seven assists in 67 games at senior level for Athletic, those numbers don’t immediately jump off the page. However, considering the numbers detailed above that he’s produced so far this season, it’s clear that Williams is taking a step forward in his development and progression.
With one goal in seven caps for Spain already, he has a big future ahead of him for club and country, and so it would be an exciting long-term addition if Villa were able to prise him away as he still has plenty of room for growth and improvement too.
Agile, athletic, technically gifted, pacy, can use both feet with an eye for goal and an ability to create in different ways with a direct running style, he is a real prospect who is showcasing his class already, and with Emery conceding that he wants a ‘specialist winger’ last month, as per Sky Sports, Williams ticks a lot of the right boxes.
While he is predominantly deployed on the right wing where he can cut inside or go wide to provide a direct threat in the final third, Williams has the versatility to play on the opposite flank too. He’s a gifted young talent, and there is no doubt that there is still much more to come from him.
Villa have used John McGinn and Jacob Ramsey on the right side of midfield since Emery took target, while Matty Cash was deployed in a more advanced role against Wolves.
Leon Bailey can play there, as can Bertrand Traore after he was recalled from his loan spell, but the Villa boss potentially wants a long-term solution in that specific role and Williams could be the one he wants.
Considering the type of player we need coupled with the characteristics and strengths of Williams, the report above suggesting that we could try to sign him again this summer after falling short in January does make a lot of sense.
Given the special bond with Athletic though as well as possible competition we might face and whether or not we can convince him to commit and join us at this stage in our project, there are still going to be significant obstacles in the way of striking a deal for Williams this summer.
If he is indeed a priority target though and we are adamant about signing him, he would be an important reinforcement with major upside and so it’s hoped that he’ll emerge a marquee signing for Emery ahead of next season.
