The pressure on Nico Williams reaches record levels and puts his signing for Barcelona at risk

Nico Williams is one of the great jewels of the 2024 transfer market, he has a clause of 58 million euros and a contract until 2027. The latest information indicates that the agreement between the player and FC Barcelona is total and his signing should only be a matter of of time. However, the constant rumors about his future have caused the forward to be in the eye of the media hurricane and the pressure is beginning to reach unbearable and increasingly dangerous levels for the culés' interests.

FC Barcelona is optimistic and trusts in closing his incorporation

In recent days, information indicates that right now at Can Barça it is assumed that Nico will be the first signing of the summer for Hansi Flick's team. It seems that the green light for the operation is complete, remembering that in this type of negotiations Barça only needs the "yes" of the footballer to proceed to pay his clause and close the signing. They claim that after Deco's meeting with his agent, Nico Williams would have everything very clear and would have begun to prepare his arrival in Barcelona. It is even stated that the player is already looking for a house in Castelldefels, a city very close to Barcelona where practically all the footballers of the Barcelona squad live.

Lamine Yamal, decisive in his signing

The first big signing that Barcelona hopes to close bears the “seal” of Lamine Yamal. The close relationship of friendship and trust that unites the Rocafonda striker and Nico Williams has been decisive for the Athletic footballer to decide to wait, even ruling out much more economically attractive offers. Both have formed a lethal duo in the National Team that they hope to replicate under the orders of Hansi Flick.

Athletic tries to retain Nico Williams at any price

The latest movements of Athletic Club could become a serious setback, the Basque team refuses to lose Nico and avoiding his signing for Barça has become a “matter of state.” In San Mamés they have already started a campaign "by land, sea and air" to try to retain him for at least one more season. The challenge of playing in the Europa League, with the final in San Mamés, and continuing to enjoy another year of an Athletic with his brother in a team in which he is happy, are the main arguments.

In Bilbao they are willing to make a considerable effort to retain the young striker and are preparing a strategy to ensure his continuity and, in the process, negotiate a new contract. According to some sources, Athletic Club could present Nico with a joint renewal proposal that would include his brother Iñaki.The Bilbao team would be willing to match the salary offered to him in the Barça team and they have also proposed having a regressive clause to facilitate his departure as the seasons go by. In this way, Nico Williams would renew, raising his salary, but also his clause, which this summer would increase to 100 million euros, making it impossible for him to leave for FC Barcelona.

On the other two open fronts, they have given Nico the maximum role in the campaign to sell the new shirts and the coach and the captain of Athletic have taken action from the locker room. Ernesto Valverde and Óscar de Marcos have been in charge of sending several messages to the player and the press, trying to influence his decision and thus put a stop to his departure.

PSG, Chelsea and Arsenal also want Nico Williams

Athletic is not the only obstacle, in the last few hours the Barça team has encountered a rival that it did not expect at this point in the operation. To the competition from Chelsea and Arsenal we now also have to add Luis Enrique's PSG. This was reported by 'The Athletic', explaining that the French team had even already maintained the first contacts with the footballer's entourage.

Regarding the negotiation with Athletic, there is peace of mind at Can Barça, since once it has enough money to pay the 58 'kilos' of its clause, it will be able to close the transfer without problems. What does generate some concern in the Barça environment is the pressure from PSG and Chelsea, who also seem to be serious about the Basque winger. The two clubs could offer a few extra millions to the 'lions' to close the sale sooner and, as for the footballer's salary, they also have enough checkbook to try to convince him.

The same thing happens with Arsenal, another of the 'big players' of the Premier League interested in Pamplona. Hence, Barça should not, by any means, take things too calmly. Nico's 'ok' will be decisive in closing the door to English clubs once and for all, but as long as the player does not speak out there will continue to be the risk of losing him. In any case, what is certain is that the 21-year-old forward will not make any decisions during his vacation, which should end in the month of July.

Bilbao and Barcelona are the favorite options

The Barça of Lamine Yamal is the favourite option

Despite the interest of PSG, Chelsea and Arsenal, everything seems to indicate that the only two options that the footballer really values ​​are continuing for another year at Athletic Club, the team of his heart, or betting on making the jump to a team. like Barça that wants to be powerful again and where it would form, together with Lamine Yamal, one of the most lethal couples in football.