Barcelona has made a definitive call on the future of Athletic Club’s Nico Williams for the 2025 transfer window.
A great performance for Spain against France has put Nico Williams back into the frame, but Barcelona’s transfer plans remain unchanged.
According to Diario Sport, the club has targeted Liverpool’s Luis Diaz this summer, with sporting director Deco seeing the Colombian as the key to strengthening the left side.
It would make perfect sense for Barcelona to go after the winger after his superb performance on Friday night, but the Catalan club’s plans remain set on other targets.
Nico Williams, a 23-year-old who, not so long ago, Barcelona saw as a huge target last summer.
However, the club has decided to walk away, due to relations with his camp being strained, and the frustration with such difficult negotiations.
Deco is now focusing on Diaz, whose personality and quality fit exactly with what Hansi Flick wants.
Getting Diaz will not be simple. Liverpool want €80 million and are even working on a contract renewal. Barcelona’s finances make such a deal difficult, but Deco is determined to get the 29-year-old forward.
If the Diaz endeavor collapses, Barcelona have a back-up in Marcus Rashford of Manchester United, with whom the club has had discussions with his representatives for a loan with an option to buy.
Based on Flick’s admiration for Rashford’s attacking attributes and the fact that he is keen to rejuvenate his career, it’s an encouraging consideration for Flick, even if he is less adept defensively compared to Diaz. The value of the contract becomes even more appealing for Rashford.
Williams, notwithstanding of footballing ability, is no longer on Barcelona’s list of priorities, highlighting the incredible pace of football, where past targets soon fade away with other priorities.
It seems encouraging that Diaz and Rashford have been so prominent in Barcelona’s thinking as the club wants to add nimble attacking quality to the group and the squad overall.
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