The future of Nico Williams at Athletic Club remains uncertain as speculation mounts regarding his potential transfer to Barcelona. Recent reports indicate that Barcelona had plans to finalize the winger’s signing with the onset of July, yet complications have arisen. Williams’ agent, Félix Tainta, has recently requested assurances from Barcelona concerning the player’s registration, a move that has not been well received at the Catalan club. They are still not fully compliant with the 1:1 salary cap rule, prompting some insiders to hint at rekindling interest in Liverpool’s Luis Díaz as a contingency plan.
This latest twist adds fuel to the ongoing tensions between Barcelona and Athletic, particularly following comments from Rafael Yuste, Barcelona’s sports vice president, who referred to Athletic dismissively as “the Bilbao.” Meanwhile, Athletic is acutely aware of Williams’ desire to leave, putting pressure on coach Ernesto Valverde to find a suitable replacement within the squad or in the transfer market.
As experienced last season, Alex Berenguer appears to be the foremost candidate to step up in the absence of key attacking players. His consistent performance throughout the past season, where he scored six goals and provided ten assists, positions him as a reliable option during this transition. Renowned for his versatility, Berenguer has filled various attacking roles and is likely to benefit from increased playing time if Williams departs.
Conversely, Álvaro Djaló, who arrived last summer for over 15 million euros from Braga, has yet to make a significant impact. Djaló will need to elevate his performance to secure more minutes in the likely event of Williams’ exit. Additionally, Athletic has recently signed Robert Navarro, adding more competition for wing positions. Navarro’s previous experience at Mallorca, where he was on loan from Real Sociedad, offers further tactical options.
With the summer transfer market open, Athletic may explore potential targets, including Borja Sainz, who impressed at Norwich with a remarkable 19 goals and 4 assists last season. His familiarity with the club through his development in Lezama and the potential financial demands from Norwich could complicate matters, but his acquisition could provide a significant boost to the squad.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Williams and the potential challenges ahead, Athletic Club has several promising players ready to step into more significant roles, which could ultimately strengthen the team moving forward.