Athletic Club take firm stance regarding €58 million fee for Barcelona target | OneFootball

Athletic Club have firmly told Barcelona that the only way they can sign Nico Williams is by paying his €58 million release clause, reports SPORT.

They have also told Barcelona that there is no room for negotiation, whether it’s about lowering the price or paying in instalments which has put Barcelona in a tough spot financially.

Right now, Nico happens to be on Barcelona’s transfer list, but it is uncertain if there are real chances of bringing him to Barcelona.

So far, Barcelona have not made any official moves to sign Nico, but they have gathered information through the player’s representatives. Barcelona know that the winger would prefer to join them over any Premier League team or another league.

However, Athletic Club’s stance is unwavering. They have never been willing to negotiate unwanted sales of their first-team players. Even in the case of Nico, who renewed his contract despite its impending expiration, they stand to earn a substantial amount from his transfer.

Troubles for Barcelona?

Nico Williams is slipping away from Barcelona. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

Athletic Club’s expected position is causing doubts for Barcelona regarding this signing. The issue is not just the price but the payment method.

Barcelona’s recent big signings have been structured as deals paid in easy instalments. They still owe payments for players like Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Jules Kounde.

Additionally, Nico Williams’ contract would be costly since he already earns a significant salary at Athletic Club.

Barcelona understand that they can only proceed with this transfer if they make a major sale. For now, the club is taking a cautious approach, waiting to see how the transfer market unfolds.

They are focusing on offloading players who won’t be part of Flick’s plans and in July, they will decide whether to accept offers for some of their regular players.

If Barcelona manages to sell some players and generate the necessary funds, they could then move forward with the plan to sign Nico.

The club is aware that the player is keen on joining them, which gives them some leverage. However, the financial demands from Athletic Club remain a significant hurdle.