Barcelona are considering their options for a 2025 transfer of Athletic Club winger Nico Williams.
The La Liga giants have been heavily linked with a summer move for the 22-year-old following his starring role in Spain's UEFA Euro 2024 title win.
However, despite pressure to sell, Williams and his club resisted leaving Bilbao, leaving Barcelona frustrated.
Despite missing out on a key transfer target, Barcelona remain open to another push for Williams as their financial situation improves in Catalonia.
Athletic will not accept a release clause below £50 million ($65 million) from Williams, and Diario Sport reports that Barcelona are now considering AC Milan's Rafael Leao as an alternative option.
Nico Williams's contract with Athletic Club, release clause
Williams signed a contract extension until June 2027 at Estadio San Mames in December 2023, which included the aforementioned release clause. This exit package will remain at the same price throughout 2025 but will drop from 2026.
While interest from Barcelona remains a factor, Athletic is also working on a renewal bid to keep Williams with his boyhood club beyond 2027.
Leao will remain on Barcelona's radar after falling out of favor with new AC Milan coach Paulo Fonseca as Christian Pulisic's role in the squad grows.
The Portuguese star scored 11 and 15 goals in Serie A in 2021/22 and 2022/23 respectively, but that number dropped to nine last season and Fonseca does not appear to be fully convinced by the former Lille striker. However, with his contract running until 2028 and a valuation of £62 million ($82 million), Barcelona may need to offer a player-plus-cash deal to bring the transfer fee below Williams' cost.
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