MY ACCOUNT
Nico Williams is on Manchester City’s radar — but they will have a fight on their hands to secure his signature.
The Athletic Bilbao winger is rumoured to have a £43.5million release clause in his contract, with City reportedly looking to lure him to the Etihad Stadium.
However, the up-and-coming star is also believed to be attracting the attention of Real Madrid, raising the prospects of a tug-of-war for his services.
Ahead of City’s clash with Brighton this afternoon, we take a look at how Williams could bolster Pep Guardiola’s attacking options and consider whether a deal is likely to materialise.
A key man
Williams has gone from a bit-part player to one of Athletic’s key attackers this season, scoring three goals and registering three assists in 10 league appearances.
No player at the club has managed more assists and only his older brother Inaki Williams has struck more often, netting four times.
Furthermore, all six of his goal contributions have come from open play — demonstrating how Bilbao’s No11 is excelling, even without set-pieces or penalties to boost his statistics.
It is a remarkable rise from a player who failed to score a single goal in LaLiga last term.
No fear
At just 20 years of age, it is clear to see that Williams is still playing with the freedom and exuberance that comes with youth.
He has attempted more take-ons (37) than any other Athletic player, while only Iker Muniain (16) has completed more than his tally of 14.
Williams possesses electric pace and superb agility, filling him with the confidence to run at opponents on a regular basis.
A willing presser
Most young forwards are primarily concerned with goals, assists and beating their man — three areas in which Williams has impressed.
However, the Pamplona native also channels his abundant energy into work off the ball and is a particularly willing presser.
In fact, he has won possession in the attacking third more times (10) than any other Athletic star so far this season.
Those qualities are indicative of a player with a good attitude — and will enable him to fit in well at any club that favours a high-pressing style.
Valverde urges calm
Amidst all the fanfare around Athletic’s latest young prodigy, manager Ernesto Valverde urged Williams’ admirers to remain calm rather than piling pressure on the forward.
He said: “Nico is a young player and everyone is hungry for young players to stand out. He is making a good start to the campaign. He is calm, so are we.
“Many times with young players, when they appear the [expectations of their potential are greatly inflated] but we already know that this is a long-distance race in which you have to be calm.
“Nico is a player who has just started in the first division, in the elite, he has a long way to go.
“Hopefully [he will spend] many years at Athletic.”
A new city?
Despite Valverde’s pleas, it appears a number of top clubs are getting very excited indeed about Williams’ potential — including the reigning Premier League champions.
Since the departure of Raheem Sterling to Chelsea this summer, the City machine has been one wide forward light with just three wingers in the squad — Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish.
With Foden earmarked for a central role at some stage, Guardiola appears keen to build for the future and bolster his wide options with young talent — and Williams certainly fits the bill.
Should Guardiola decide that the Spanish international is the man to make his team even stronger, the winger’s £43.5m release clause will be no obstacle.
Given the development of young attackers like Sterling and Leroy Sane under the former Barcelona boss’ tutelage, it is frightening to consider what Williams could become if he does indeed make the move to Manchester.
