Liverpool launch Nico Williams move: Reds spare no expense in latest blockbuster bid

Liverpool are ready to offer Athletic Club €95 million to sign Spain international winger Nico Williams, according to a report.

The Reds are ready to test Nico’s commitment to the Basque club, which was reaffirmed in the summer when he signed a new contract until 2035, with a monster bid.

Athletic’s poor recent form is said to have the 23-year-old winger questioning his status at the club. After qualifying for the Champions League last season, the Bilbao outfit have lost more games than they have won in La Liga this season and sit 11 points short of the top four.

Liverpool have shown their willingness to spend big recently. Arne Slot’s side spent a record €470m in the summer transfer window to overhaul their squad, and while that has not worked, Fichajes reports that they are ready to throw more money at the problem with an approach for Nico Williams.

It is claimed that they will “spare no expense” as they chase the Spain winger.

This means that they will have to spend €95m prising the player away from Athletic. In the summer, he had a release clause worth a tempting €58m, which saw the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona take a serious interest in him. By signing a new contract, Nico also raised the value of such a buy-out option to just short of €100m.

The Anfield side are one of the few clubs that have the financial muscle and reputation to make Nico, who has struggled to find his best form this season due to a succession of injury problems, consider his future in Bilbao.

Now the winger is said to be “torn” over the decision facing him.

Is Nico Williams a replacement for Mo Salah?

Liverpool’s interest in Nico comes at a time when there are grave doubts over Mohamed Salah’s future at Anfield.

The Spaniard is renowned as a versatile winger who can feature on either flank. However, he has primarily played off the left for Athletic in recent times, and it is on this wing that he has enjoyed the majority of his success.

A bid for Nico Williams certainly does not pave the way for Salah to leave the club but instead puts additional pressure on Cody Gakpo’s spot on Merseyside.

Related stories:

Liverpool stay or Saudi move? Mo Salah tipped to take third transfer option

REVEALED: January’s ‘most wanted’ transfer target

The FootballTransfers app

Check out FootballTransfers’ new app for all of football’s big storylines, transfer rumours and exclusive news in one convenient place directly on your mobile device.

The FootballTransfers app is available on Google Play and in the Apple App Store. Download here:

•Google Play

•App Store