Athletic Club relieve: Barcelona no longer seen as threat for Nico Williams

Despite being identified by Barcelona as their top target for the summer, and a public declaration of interest from President Joan Laporta, it looks as if Nico Williams will not be getting the train across the North of Spain. The only remaining threat comes from France.

That is the line from Diario AS. After reporting on Tuesday evening that Barcelona’s move for Williams was all but dead, despite not having received a response from the 22-year-old, the Madrid-based paper say that Athletic Club are no longer concerned about the Blaugrana activating Williams’ release clause, after contacts have gone cold with the Catalan side.

The only real threat for the Basque giants now is Paris Saint-Germain. Even with Athletic willing to offer him a second wage hike in the space of nine months with a new contract, PSG would be able to offer Williams a deal well in excess of their financial ability. All the same, they are now confident that they will have their star winger back in training in August.

The line all summer has been that regardless of what happens, Williams would prefer to remain in Spain. It seems only a remarkable pitch from Luis Enrique or PSG Sporting Director Luis Campos will see him leave Bilbao. Los Leones are on the home strait to retaining their Euro 2024-winner though.