Nico Williams – The Empire of The Kop

Liverpool-linked speedster makes 12-word declaration on his future amid exit rumours

Liam Togher — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 14:49:54 +0000

One Liverpool-linked winger has made a 12-word declaration regarding his future, amid considerable transfer speculation.

Last month, 90min reported that the Reds were among four Premier League clubs monitoring Nico Williams, who’d also been attracting interest from Aston Villa, Arsenal and Tottenham.

The 21-year-old’s current contract at Athletic Bilbao expires next June, thus fuelling rumours of a possible exit, but the Spain international has now reaffirmed his commitment to the LaLiga outfit.

In quotes shared by Fabrizio Romano on X, the forward stated: “I’m happy here in Bilbao. Athletic fans can be relaxed, no worries.”

Nico Williams on his contract due to expire in June 2024: “I’m happy here in Bilbao”.

“Athletic fans can be relaxed, no worries”. pic.twitter.com/zrDqoFxOr8

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 28, 2023

Although Williams has played chiefly as a left winger this season, he’s frequently been deployed on the right flank (Transfermarkt), and Liverpool may possibly have been looking at him as a long-term successor to Mo Salah, about whom rumours of a move to Saudi Arabia continue to circulate.

The Athletic Bilbao forward is famed for his lightning pace, clocking the second-fastest sprint speed at the 2022 World Cup when he reached an eye-watering 35.59 km/hr (Sportskeeda).

The 21-year-old has a decent tally of eight goal contributions in 11 appearances so far this term, although seven of those have been assists (Transfermarkt), so he could certainly improve when it comes to finding the net himself.

Williams appears to be committed to his current club, even if that hasn’t yet manifested itself in the form of a new contract, so speculation over his future could continue to abound until such time as he puts pen to paper.

That said, Liverpool are serious about trying to bring him to the Premier League, they may need to woo him quickly, or else risk seeing him dash the hopes of his myriad suitors by signing fresh terms at San Mames.

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Liverpool could replace Mo Salah for free with contract loophole – report

Wash N'Gog — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 12:10:21 +0000

Liverpool’s Mo Salah is enjoying yet another stellar campaign for the club, though concerns persist over his long-term future at Anfield.

The Egyptian King’s contract is currently due to expire in the summer of 2025, though it’s unclear whether the Reds may consider selling in the event of a big fee arriving.

In which case, you’d have to imagine the club’s recruitment team already have a number of names in mi nd when it comes to players who could fill the 31-year-old’s boots – step forward Nico Williams.

El Correo (via Anfield Central) reports that the attacker’s current terms are set to expire this coming summer, which will surely invite bids from a host of top European outfits.

Keep, sell or extend Mo Salah’s contract?

It’s the big question that plagued many a mind last summer!

With the prospect of a mega bid from Saudi Arabia on the cards, you could forgive fans for thinking of the future, sad as it may be, beyond Salah.

Likewise, of course, with the former Roma hitman in such imperious form and showing no sign of slowing down, you could justify extending his stay at L4.

Could Williams be a viable replacement?

Should the Egyptian international leave next summer, however, you could do much worse than the versatile Nico Williams.

The 21-year-old has been mainly a creative force this term, registering five assists and one goal across 10 La Liga appearances.

He’d have to seriously improve his goal threat – registering in the 54th percentile for non-penalty xG compared to Salah’s 99th percentile. That said, we’re encouraged by the number of touches he’s taking in the opponents’ penalty area (87th percentile).

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Mo Salah successor available for free; agent sends Liverpool message – report

Peter Kenny Jones — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 11:53:06 +0000

No Liverpool supporter wants to contemplate a life without Mo Salah but those in charge of recruitment must start planning for the future and one interesting option may be about to arise.

Speaking with El Correo (via HITC), Felix Tainta – the agent of Nico Williams – said: “In a few months, his contract ends. Let’s not forget that.

“There is no definitive offer from the club. In any case, the one who has to decide his future is the player. The club knows what the player’s approach is and what he wants.

“(Athletic) must listen to the player, and must try to reach an agreement that is good for both parties, always keeping in mind that the contract ends in a few months, let us not forget.”

It had been reported that we were one of four clubs already interested in Nico Williams, alongside Aston Villa, Arsenal and Tottenham, showing the attraction that is present in the player from other clubs.

The 21-year-old could be a great option for the coming years but whether we need to add another attacking option to our roster this summer, would be a decision of Jurgen Klopp and his staff.

Our Egyptian King is 31-years-old but still performing like a 21-year-old himself and unless his head is turned by another lucrative offer from the middle east, then we may well see that no replacement is needed yet.

The Athletic Bilbao attacker has one goal and five assists in 10 games in La Liga this season, compare that to 12 goals and 4 assists from our No.11 in 17 games – there’s no real competition.

We may not even need the Spanish international yet and he may not even be an improvement on what we already have but stranger things have certainly happened.

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Liverpool among EPL quartet with an eye on 2024 free transfer swoop for ‘incredible’ speed demon

Liam Togher — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 15:19:01 +0000

Liverpool are reportedly among four Premier League clubs eyeing up a potential swoop for a lightning-quick winger who could be available on a free transfer next year.

According to 90min, the Reds are joined by Aston Villa, Arsenal and Tottenham in showing an interest in Nico Williams, whose contract at Athletic Bilbao expires in June 2024, with no sign of him extending that deal as of yet.

The LaLiga club are reportedly confident that the 21-year-old will eventually agree to stay put before he becomes a free agent in eight months’ time, but so long as the two parties are at an impasse, prospective suitors are set to continue circling for the Spain international.

Capable of playing on either flank in a front three, Williams is renowned for his searing pace, having recorded the second-fastest sprint speed at last year’s World Cup when he was clocked at 35.59 km/hr (Sportskeeda).

He’s already surpassed 100 senior appearances between club and international level, scoring 14 goals (Transfermarkt), while his teammate and older brother Inaki spoke of how the 21-year-old is in ‘incredible shape’ (Sports World Ghana).

Liverpool are currently blessed with an abundance of riches in attack, although they might see tremendous value in a potential swoop for the Spain winger.

To get a player valued at €80m (£69.6m) by CIES Football Observatory for free would be a magnificent coup, while the Reds could offer him a substantial increase on his current weekly wage of £58.5k and still comfortably keep it within their existing pay structure (Capology).

Expect the Anfield hierarchy to keep a close watch on what happens with Williams’ contract situation in Bilbao – this has the potential to be an extremely shrewd pickup if he ultimately becomes available on a free transfer.

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Liverpool lurking for £58k-p/w ‘difference maker’ who they could clinch for a bargain in January

Liam Togher — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 11:55:58 +0000

According to reports from Spain, Liverpool are lurking in the race to sign a gifted young winger for free in January.

AS have claimed that the Reds – along with Aston Villa and Barcelona – are ‘on the prowl’ for Nico Williams, whose current deal at Athletic Bilbao is set to expire next June.

That means the 21-year-old could sign a pre-contract with a club outside LaLiga from the beginning of 2024, although his employers are determined to keep hold of him beyond that point.

San Mames chief Jon Uriarte is adamant that the forward is ‘very happy’ in the Basque region and that both sides are ‘working hard’ to try and reach an agreement over new terms.

Williams currently earns just under £58,000 per week in Bilbao (Capology), which doesn’t seem a massive high wage for someone who was labelled a ‘true winger’ by his former Spain coach Luis Enrique and a ‘difference maker’ by international teammate Rodri (Sportstar).

The youngster has already supplied four assists in as many LaLiga matches in the early weeks of the campaign, with 23 goal contributions in 89 senior appearances for Athletic thus far (Transfermarkt).

He has played on the left flank in recent games but is primarily a right winger, something that Liverpool could be seeking next year if they’re ultimately unable to prevent Mo Salah from leaving, should Al-Ittihad push strongly for the Egyptian once more in the next few months.

Williams excels at running with the ball into dangerous areas of the pitch, with his match average of 5.73 progressive carries placing him in the top 6% of positional peers across Europe’s five main leagues over the past year (FBref).

He carries a market value of €21.3m (£18.3m) by Football Transfers but Athletic would surely demand far more than that if they were to sell him.

To pick up a 21-year-old right winger for free, particularly one with such a capability for getting fans off their seats, would be exceptional business by Liverpool if they were to pull it off – depending on what happens with his contact situation in Bilbao between now and January.

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Report: Liverpool line up 21-y/o Salah replacement they could soon sign for free

Farrell Keeling — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 16:05:14 +0000

Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp won’t be glad to see the back of Mo Salah next summer (or in January) should the Egyptian King call time on his Anfield career in the relatively near future.

It’s a very real possibility the German tactician may have to steel himself against, however, should the Reds not extend his current terms (expiring in 2025) or the riches of the Saudi Pro League win out either way.

One man the Merseysiders are understood to have added to their list – who could be available to snap up for free on a pre-contract agreement in January – is that of La Liga ace Nico Williams, if one report from Fichajes (as relayed by CaughtOffside) is to be taken as gospel.

The Athletic Bilbao star, aged 21, finds himself on terms that are set to expire in the summer of 2024, as things currently stand.

Depending on how the player is perceived compared to the likely vast multiplicity of names on our shortlist, doing a deal in the winter window could be shrewd on our part – especially if it ensures a guaranteed arrival in the summer.

Leaving us with the whole fee, whether that’s £100m or more for our former Chelsea wide man, untouched has to be considered a huge potential boost too ahead of what looks set to be another busy summer of spending next year.

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26 y/o implores Liverpool-linked ‘rough diamond’ to snub potential Anfield move – report

Liam Togher — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 09:40:57 +0000

One reported Liverpool transfer target has been implored to forget about possibly joining the Reds and remain with his current club instead.

This week, Spanish outlet AS reported of the Merseysiders’ interest in Nico Williams, but one of the 20-year-old’s Athletic Bilbao teammates has urged him to stay with the LaLiga outfit.

Gorka Guruzeta told AS (via El Desmarque): “Nico has many more chances to play in any club because we already know the level he has.”

The 26-year-old continued: “He is aware of what he has here and what may be [elsewhere] in every way – pressure, titles, salary… Each [player] has to see what he wants in his life. For me, I hope he continues [with Bilbao], because we can help [him] a lot with everything.”

Williams’ older brother Inaki is also at the club, and last year he said of his younger sibling (via Mundo Deportivo): “In one-on-ones, he is practically unstoppable…He is a talent, a rough diamond that needs to be polished.”

The statistics back up the former comment. As per FBref, the youngster ranks among the top 6% of wingers in Europe’s five main leagues for progressive carries (5.25 per game) and top 11% for successful take-ons (2.29 per game) over the past 12 months.

Both of those averages exceed every current player at Liverpool, with Ben Doak (3.33) and Luis Diaz (2.06) topping those respective metrics among Jurgen Klopp’s squad per 90 minutes (FBref).

Primarily a right winger but occasionally featuring on the other flank, Williams has seven goals and six assists from 33 appearances so far this season (Transfermarkt).

It’s a decent if unspectacular hit rate, but his superb dribbling ability could make him a hugely exciting player to watch.

Also, while Liverpool have an abundance of forwards, Mo Salah is the only natural right winger, so Williams could add much-needed depth in that position if he were to ignore Guruzeta’s plea and come to Anfield.

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Liverpool to ‘monitor’ the performances of 20-year-old La Liga star at World Cup – report

Max Rudd — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 10:05:33 +0000

Liverpool scouts are heading to Qatar to ‘monitor’ the performances of Nico Williams with Jurgen Klopp reportedly wanting to sign another winger.

The Athletic Bilbao star has been linked with a move to Anfield previously and with him earning a spot in Luis Enrique’s World Cup squad, the Merseysiders have the perfect opportunity to watch the 20-year-old closely – this is according to a report by Fichajes (via Sport Witness).

He’s not a guaranteed starter for the Spaniards but after impressing for the Basque outfit recently, he’s certainly in with a chance to shine on the biggest of stages.

Williams, who is the younger brother of fellow Bilbao favourite Inaki, has four goals and four assists in 15 appearances this term (across all competitions) and his frightening pace is something that wreaks havoc amongst the opponents’ backline.

The report claims that the youngster is happy with the La Liga outfit and has a deal that runs until 2024 but with a number of clubs monitoring his situation, Klopp’s men are believed to ‘lead the race’.

We already have a number of options at the top end of the pitch with Bobby Firmino, Darwin Nunez and Mo Salah all impressing this season.

Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz remain sidelined through injury at the moment and our German tactician may be eager to add one more option in that department.

Taki Minamino and Divock Origi left the club in the summer and the superb cover that they offered in attack is yet to be fully replaced.

Strengthening the midfield remains our main priority across the next two transfer windows but if Williams continues to impress then this is certainly one to keep an eye on.

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Liverpool tracking Inaki Williams’ 20-year-old brother – three-goal La Liga winger with huge potential – AS

Farrell Keeling — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 15:44:00 +0000

Liverpool are reportedly keeping tabs on Inaki Williams’ younger brother and Athletic Bilbao winger, Nico Williams.

This update comes courtesy of Spanish outlet AS (via Sport Witness), though the publication does note that there is no intention on the Reds’ side of issuing an offer in the current summer window.

It’s news that will come as music to the ears of executives at the Spanish outfit, though there is something of an expectation that the forward could attract further attention should he deliver more quality performances for the club this term.

Slotting in mainly on the right flank (though capable of featuring on the left), the Spaniard has the feel of a potential heir to the role currently dominated by Mo Salah – one that is unlikely to be ceded to another on a regular basis until after the summer of 2025, should a fresh contract not be agreed.

Keeping the Egyptian beyond that point would represent a huge departure from the norm on our part, of course, given the importance our owners and Jurgen Klopp places on driving young blood up into the first-team.

As such, we’d be far from surprised to learn of the recruitment team having set the gears in motion to work on finding a suitable option for our Egyptian King to eventually hand the baton over to.

For now, of course, we’d love nothing more than to enjoy the three years we know we’ll be seeing Salah play a crucial role in.

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