Sky Sports’ La Liga expert Guillem Balague has confirmed Liverpool’s approach for Athletic Bilbao winger Inaki Williams. Inaki has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool in recent times and it was also believed that he has a £42.3m release clause in his contract.
It was earlier reported that Liverpool had already launched a bid to sign the 22-year old Spaniard. And now, the reports have been confirmed by reputed football expert Guillem Balague of Sky Sports.
Inaki Williams has been a revelation this season and has scored 7 goals and 8 assists in 43 appearances for Bilbao this season. He signed a new long-term contract with the Spanish club in January but that does not seem to have put out Liverpool’s interest in the player.
Balague has also said that Liverpool might not match the release clause and would launch a bid of a considerable amount to try and lure the player away from Bilbao.
Guillem Balague said while answering a Sky Sports Q&A session,
“He was followed by Liverpool and has a [£42.3 million] buyout clause. I’m not sure any team would be willing to pay that right now because he has not proved that valuation. He is in no rush but he is certainly looking abroad should he move.”
Balague seems to be right as the player himself recently admitted that he was happy at Athletic Bilbao.
Inaki said in February:
“I am calm, I feel very, very calm because I am very comfortable here. I have no intentions of anything. It is flattering that big teams are interested in me but I’m already at the biggest team and I want to continue my career here, hopefully for many years.
“I am calm. My agent deals with this things but I have always said that I am very comfortable here and that I am where I want to be. I am proud to come here every morning and be with my teammates and the coaching staff. I do not plan to make any changes and I do not worry about all these [reports] coming out.”
One thing is clear now. Liverpool are certainly interested in signing Inaki Williams and they are working out a good proposal to match all the involved parties’ expectations.
Inaki Williams would surely be a good signing as he is young and talented like every other European wonder kid out there. Whether he is worth £42.3M or not will be for Jurgen Klopp to decide.
