FC Barcelona has reached an agreement with its main transfer target in Euro 2024 winner Nico … [+]
FC Barcelona has reached an agreement with its main transfer target in Euro 2024 winner Nico Williams according to SPORT, which cited anonymous sources.
Nico has been President Joan Laporta’s most desired potential acquisition even before he scored the opening goal of the Euros final for Spain against England in a 2-1 triumph.
Throughout the most recent edition of the UEFA tournament, he terrorised defences from elite countries such as Croatia, Italy, Germany and France from the left wing while close friend and Barca prodigy Lamine Yamal did likewise on the other flank.
With nearly a month passed since La Roja became kings of the continent for a record fourth time, the Blaugrana has thus far failed to lure Nico to Catalonia from Athletic Club.
It has tasted success elsewhere in the market by landing Spain colleague and Euros golden boot winner Dani Olmo, however, who on Friday signed a six-year contract with his boyhood outfit as part of a deal which transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano explained is worth $60 million (€55 million) in fixed money plus a further $7.6 million (€7 million) in add-ons.
Just a couple of days after that transfer was confirmed, SPORT reports that progress is being made on Nico, or at least with him directly.
Anonymous Barca sources told the Catalan newspaper how Nico “has told us that he wants to come this summer”, and that the potential move should take place next week.
Just as he did in Leipzig with Olmo and his camp earlier this week, Sporting Director Deco has been able to “seduce” Nico and agent Felix Tainta at a meeting held in Zaragoza.
The main sticking point, though, is raising the funds for Nico’s release clause with his Basque employers, which is believed to be around $67.7 million (€62 million).
Nico arriving will complicate matters for Olmo, who was believed by some to be a prime candidate to man the left wing spot which remains vacant after Ferran Torres and Joao Felix couldn’t make it their own last term under Hansi Flick’s predecessor Xavi Hernandez.
Instead, Olmo would be more likely to challenge figures such as Pedri and Gavi – currently both out injured – for the attacking midfield positions in Flick’s 4-2-3-1.
