It’s been clear for some while now that Barcelona want to land exciting Athletic Club talent, Nico Williams, but as the two teams prepare to do battle this coming weekend, the 22-year-old is still no closer to joining the Blaugranes.
Though it isn’t clear if the player’s preference is to move clubs in this window, the Catalans are clearly going all out to ensure that they’re on the right side of Financial Fair Play and can be in a position to afford Williams if the opportunity is going to present itself.
Nico Williams to Barcelona if the Catalans shed three players?
According to CaughtOffside columnist and transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, there are three deals that the Spanish top-flight club are hoping to do within the next week and a half, and that would potentially open up the possibility of Williams becoming a Barcelona player.
Ilkay Gundogan – to Man City, Mikayil Faye to Lille or Rennes and Vitor Roque to Real Betis or Sporting are the deals that are seemingly being discussed at present.
As has been seen on many occasions in the past, just because serious discussions are taking place, deals can collapse for a variety of reasons.
From Barcelona’s point of view, because of the alleged financial mismanagement of the previous regime – which included handing Frenkie de Jong a contract worth over €700,000 per week (Capology) – it’s imperative that they get the wage bill down.
With an overbooking in their midfield now too – De Jong, Gavi, Fermin, Dani Olmo, Pedri, Marc Bernal and Marc Casado all have first-team berths this season – there’s a good enough reason to allow Gundogan – on a reported €360,577 per week – to move on.
The financial aspect of the Faye and Roque deals aren’t likely to make as much of a dent, however, every little helps as far as Barcelona are concerned.