Nico Williams deal 'freezes' signing of Barça's big target for midfield

FC Barcelona's plans for this transfer market have undergone forced changes in recent days. The Blaugrana have directed all their financial efforts towards the Nico Williams operation, since the incorporation of the Navarrese to Hansi Flick's team is the absolute priority, with the alternative of Dani Olmo waiting in the 'chamber' as the club's 'plan B'. For this reason, the signing of Mikel Merino, although not ruled out, has taken a backseat in the Blaugrana offices.

At Can Barça they have had the aim of signing a midfielder for several seasons, even with Sergio Busquets in the squad, but they still haven't found the right player. Players like Arthur, Oriol Romeu or Franck Kessié have passed through the Spotify Camp Nou without pain or glory, and although this summer it seemed that this situation could change, the truth is that the club's finances have forced the culés to reorganize their priorities, with Nico Williams being the most important of them all.

For this reason, all the moves of the Catalan club are subject to what happens with the Athletic Club de Bilbao winger. The latest information suggests that the Athletic winger would be waiting for the Barcelona players to manage to finalise the sale of a player in order to bring him closer to Barcelona. While Barça works to resolve this situation, Mikel Merino waits in the 'shadows' to define his future.

The midfielder has one more year left on his contract with Real Sociedad, and if things stay as they are today, he will rejoin the 'txuri-urdin' first team on August 5. Arsenal were presented as the other great alternative for the Pamplona native, but Anoeta has not yet received any offer from London, where the name of Fabián Ruiz is beginning to 'hover'. Atlético de Madrid would also be on Mikel's trail, but it would be their least preferred option.

Hansi Flick looks for alternatives at 'home'

Meanwhile, Hansi Flick will look for solutions at home in case the Real Sociedad player ends up 'ruling out' Barça. The German coach will continue to try out the youth players for the central midfield, with Marc Casadó as one of the main alternatives for the German. The player from La Masia showed a great performance against UE Olot, so he will look to take advantage of his opportunities on the tour of the United States to convince the coach and become the definitive 'reinforcement' of the midfield.