Athletic Club hope Nico Williams will follow in his brothers’ footsteps and reject Liverpool

Athletic Club star Nico Williams has been one of the standout players at this summer’s European Championships and it comes as no surprise that Liverpool are keeping close tabs on his progress.

The Spanish international’s release clause is between €55m and €58m, one that Athletic will insist be met to entertain any thoughts of him leaving. Given the Reds’ financial position, they have no PSR or FFP concerns and can splash the cash if needed. After all, we have seen in the past that FSG are not averse to opening their chequebook when convinced about a player’s potential.

A dynamic presence on the left wing, Williams certainly fits the bill and can be the long-term successor to Sadio Mane that the Reds’ faithful dearly seek. While Luis Diaz has done a good job in the position, he has failed to convert his international form for Colombia into the same in Red. The inability to perform in clutch situations like Mane has made Diaz somewhat of a liability at times.

With an upgrade certainly welcome, it comes as no surprise that Williams is on the Reds’ radar. This is not the first time that a player with the same surname has caught Liverpool’s fancy. The Merseysiders were huge fans of Nico’s older brother Inaki, who also made a name for himself at Athletic Club.

However, Inaki rejected a move to Anfield and stayed put at The San Mames Stadium. According to Marca, the La Liga side are hoping that Nico too does the same should the Reds come calling this summer.

Liverpool are yet to make a formal offer for the 21-year-old. But then given his performances for Spain this summer, they cannot afford to employ a wait-and-watch approach. The likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Chelsea are all in the fray for Nico’s signature this summer.

Athletic Club, for their part, have made their stance clear and are unwilling to even negotiate the 21-year-old’s exit. But then, it remains to be seen how much choice they have in the matter if the release clause is met. As we saw with Dominic Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister last season, it is an approach Liverpool could pursue.

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At 21, Williams certainly has the world at his feet but is far from the finished product. Signing him will future-proof Liverpool’s roster on the left wing, giving Arne Slot a long-term project that can develop into one of the best in the business. Whether the Reds will opt to stick with Diqaz or pull the plug to go all out for Nico remains to be seen.