Transfer Talk: Chelsea monitoring Athletic’s Nico Williams
Credit to Author: Nick Judd| Date: Thu, 7 Mar 2024 19:34:33 EST
Stevie Nicol reacts to Liverpool cruising in their first leg vs. Sparta Prague with a 5-1 victory. (1:05)
The summer transfer window is still a ways from reopening in Europe, but there are plenty of moves in the works and gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
Chelsea are one of several Premier League clubs interested in Athletic Club winger Nico Williams, reports Fabrizio Romano.
The Blues have been monitoring the 21-year-old for several months, even before they signed Cole Palmer from Manchester City last summer, and they continue to maintain an interest.
Williams can play on both flanks but has impressed on the left-hand side for the LaLiga side this season, particularly in the club’s run to the Copa del Rey final. The Spaniard has scored six goals and added 11 assists, and has a release clause of £43 million.
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Chelsea have options in that area of the pitch already, but their interest in Williams poses question marks over Mykhailo Mudryk and Raheem Sterling, the latter of whom has been the subject of interest from the Saudi Pro League.
Chelsea’s ability to move for players such as Williams will depend on their ability to trim their squad, while it’s clear that their top priority in the summer is an out-and-out striker.
Athletic Club are hoping to keep Williams but are said to be making plans for next season without him, which include a move for Braga‘s Álvaro Djaló.
– Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a move for Barcelona youngster Dani Rodriguez, according to Sport journalist Toni Juanmarti. The 18-year-old winger is considered a hot prospect but Barca fear his departure, with Spurs able to offer him a better financial package, and a better route to first-team football. Barca officials have made several attempts to discuss Rodriguez’s future with his agent, but talks have proved elusive. Despite Rodriguez having been unable to break into manager Xavi’s first team, Barca were hoping to persuade the La Masia graduate to extend his contract, which ends this summer, for another two years. Athletic Club are also interested in Rodriguez.
– Manchester United are keeping tabs on Tottenham Hotspur target and Juventus defender Bremer, with the Bianconeri willing to accept offers of around €70m, according to Tuttosport. United have lacked strength in depth in their back line this season and they see the 26-year-old as the ideal addition to take them forward. Bremer has four years left on his current deal, but Juve would be willing to part with him to strengthen their squad in multiple areas.
– Barcelona are interested in signing Mason Greenwood from Manchester United, reports Sport. The Catalan side are looking to approach United about the 22-year-old, whose contract runs out in 2025. Greenwood has starred for Getafe this season on loan, and Barca view him as a young player who fits their budget for the season ahead. Greenwood has scored eight goals and added five assists in 26 games this season, and he’s unlikely to return to United. Getafe harbour plans of persuading the Englishman to stay, but it appears most likely that he’ll be off to a new club in the summer.
– Barcelona are keen to extend João Cancelo‘s loan stay at Camp Nou next season but Manchester City would prefer a permanent transfer, with a move to another Premier League club or Saudi Arabia, reports Sport. They report that any hopes Barca have of keeping the 29-year-old on loan beyond the end of the current season are complicated. Barca are unable to afford a permanent move for the Portuguese player, valued at €40m, and with City reluctant to allow him to leave on loan again, it would seem more likely that a move within England, or to the Saudi Pro League, is on the cards.
– Barca defender Iñigo Martínez could find himself leaving the club just one year after his move from Athletic Club, according to Spanish radio station RAC1. Barca’s ongoing financial difficulties are forcing them to trim their squad before they can even consider making any planned additions and the 32-year-old Martinez is one player in danger of having to make way in the summer. LaLiga’s wage restrictions for 2024-25, coupled with how Barca signed Martinez in the first place, means that they’re more likely to offer chances to rising stars Pau Cubarsí and Mikayil Faye than try to facilitate Martinez’s stay.