Barcelona president Joan Laporta is keeping the door open for Nico Williams on one condition
Barcelona appear to have shifted focus from Nico Williams to Dani Olmo this summer, but none of the Blaugrana sources reporting to local media are willing to definitively rule out the deal.
Part of the reason is that, despite consistent reports that Williams will make the decision to stay in Bilbao next year, he has not informed any party of his decision in a formal sense. Athletic Club manager Ernesto Valverde reiterated on Friday morning that he was as relaxed about Williams' future as he was a couple of weeks ago.
“I am calm as before. The market will close on August 31 and there is still a month. I am not only referring to Nico, but we can also improve our team. We will see what happens because every day something new appears in the press, but we shouldn't let these things affect us,” said Valverde. Sport.
RB Leipzig is still not ready to accept the new offer from Barcelona for Dani Olmo. Leipzig is not happy with the new numbers presented. They demand at least 60 million euros, just to get + add-ons. Olmo wants to join Barcelona above all other options. @Plettigoal
— Barcacentre (@barcacentre) August 2, 2024
Meanwhile MD ensures that Barcelona president Joan Laporta continues to be careful to recruit Williams now, but if he decides to stay at Athletic this summer, he will not close the door to a move next summer. The only thing that would rule out any move while Laporta is calling the shots is if he signs another new deal with Athletic, and increases his release clause to €100m, with the Basque side willing to offer an increase of the salary.
It was reported, as his doubts about a move emerged, that the Sporting Director Deco had told Williams it was now or never a move to lift the pressure. Of course, if Barcelona were to sign Olmo instead this summer, putting Williams, Olmo, Pedri and Lamine Yamal in the same side would be quite a complicated task.
