Spanish attacker Nico Williams reportedly wants to continue his career with Athletic Bilbao despite interest from Arsenal and Liverpool.
The 21-year-old has long been linked with a move to the Premier League since his breakthrough into the senior Athletic ranks, having joined the club's academy from Osasuna in 2013.
Williams has come up with 13 goals and 12 assists in 95 appearances for the Basque powerhouses and has begun the 2023-24 campaign strongly, scoring one goal and setting up five more in 10 La Liga appearances.
The attacker's form earned him a spot in Luis Enrique's Spain squad for the 2022 World Cup, where he made four appearances, but he has now entered the final 12 months of his Athletic contract.
A plethora of revered European clubs have been tipped to battle for Williams's signature on a free transfer, with Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich and Juventus all credited with an interest.
© Reuters
Villa are believed to be at the head of the queue, with Spanish outlet Sport - via BirminghamLive - stating that Unai Emery's side are prepared to pay a premium to bring him to the West Midlands.
However, the report adds that Williams currently has no desire to leave Athletic, who are expected to tie him down to a new contract with a sizeable release clause, as is customary in La Liga.
It was claimed last month that the Spain international had already agreed terms over a two-year extension, but as things stand, he is still due to become a free agent at the end of the current campaign.
Nevertheless, Athletic president Jon Uriarte talked up Williams's chances of staying in September, telling Gol TV: "Nico, like his family, Inaki, his mother, are very happy in Bilbao. They love Athletic. They love our project. We are working hard on both sides so that he can stay."
Williams is currently with the Spain squad preparing for November's Euro 2024 qualifying matches with Cyprus and Georgia, as La Roja - who have already made it to the finals - vie for first place in Group A with Scotland.
© Reuters
While Arsenal are believed to have taken a liking to Williams, the 21-year-old is not believed to be their primary attacking target as they focus their efforts on a January move for Ivan Toney.
The Brentford striker will complete his eight-month betting suspension during the winter window and is believed to be keen on a move to the Emirates, but the Bees will hold out for at least £100m to part ways with him.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have all of Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez jostling for position in the number nine spot, but uncertainty lingers over the long-term future of Mohamed Salah.
The Egypt international remained at Anfield over the summer despite the best efforts of Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad, who failed with a £150m offer on deadline day.
The Middle Eastern giants are expected to try again 2024, by which time Salah will be about to enter the final year of his Liverpool deal, but he is not thought to be yearning for an exit.
Ben Knapton
