Liverpool transfers: Barcelona president says club CAN afford Nico Williams

Liverpool have been reported to be interested in signing the Athletic Club winger Nico Williams this summer amid rumours that the Anfield side would pay his €58 million release clause. 

The 21-year-old led the Basque side to their first major silverware in four decades last season with the Copa del Rey and has been starring for Spain at the European Championship. 

His services are said to be very much in demand this summer with both Liverpool and Barcelona reported to be vying for his signature. 

It was reported a few weeks ago that Williams would command a £300,000 per week pay packet, placing him second only to Mohamed Salah in the Reds’ pecking order. 

And in the last week it emerged in the Catalan press that Liverpool WOULD be prepared to trigger the release clause in the wide man’s current deal. 

Barca can afford Williams

Complicating the picture from a Liverpool perspective is the presence of Barcelona. The Blaugrana have their eyes on Williams and were thought to be struggling to make a deal happen. 

Their precarious finances allied with a need to offload players before buying this summer led to speculation that Barca would look at lower cost options including Jamie Bynoe-Gittens of Borussia Dortmund. 

However, the Catalans have now come storming back into the running for Williams with club president Joan Laporta stating that his club CAN now afford a deal to land the forward. 

"Obviously I like him a lot,” he told Catalunya Radio (via Mundo Deportivo). "But here we have to let those who have the responsibility work, and [sporting director] Deco is working to make the signings that have been discussed with [Hansi] Flick and I hope to have good news.

"Today, yes [Barcelona can afford Williams]. It is the result of the work that has been done these years to get to this point, we could face a signing of this level."

Barca were also thought to be considering the signing of Liverpool’s Luis Diaz, but deemed the move ‘unfeasible’ after learning the Reds’ asking price.