Athletic Club winger Nico Williams is the apple of many eyes at the moment, and with a €58 million release clause, he looks like a relatively affordable option for many European giants. Barcelona have a long-standing interest in Williams, while Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool have recently discussed him.
It was reported on Sunday afternoon that Chelsea had he turned his attention to Williams as his priority target for the wing position following Michael Olise's decision to join Bayern Munich. However Matteo Moretto told Football España that currently Chelsea are not considering a deal for Williams because of the cost of it. They hear Williams' release clause and the 21-year-old's salary demands are currently out of reach.
Barcelona are considering giving Lamine Yamal the number 10 shirt. @memorabilia1899
— Barcacentre (@barcacentre) June 23, 2024
This comes as something of a surprise as Olise is set to move to Bayern for a similar fee, although his wage demands are unknown. The Athletic Club famously does not negotiate for their star players, instead demanding that their release clauses be paid in full. The fact that Chelsea cannot sweep the cost of Williams – even over a period of five years – is perhaps the important part to consider, as they are believed to be in line with the financial rules of the Premier League.
