FC Barcelona have had a slow start to the summer transfer window despite having a lot of hopes. Due to their financial restrictions, the Catalan club has been greatly limited in terms of what they can accomplish during this transfer window. However, Barcelona have not stopped at any point, and they do not plan to do so now.
Their big first step this summer came through the signing of Dani Olmo, the 26-year-old RB Leipzig star who previously belonged to La Masia. With his signing now taken for granted, one that has been confirmed by Fabrizio Romano as well, Barcelona are ready to reignite a passing flame.
For much of the summer, Barça have been consistently linked to 22-year-old Athletic Club star Nico Williams. Following his surreal performances at the European Championship, Barça and Joan Laporta have been determined to sign him.
However, despite the reality of things looking like Nico Williams will stay at Athletic Club, Barcelona are reportedly not giving up any time soon. According to SPORT, club president Joan Laporta is now set to step in and replace Deco as the man who will lead these negotiations for the Spanish winger.
Moreover, given that the president himself highly rated Nico Williams and is a supporter of his arrival, he will do whatever it takes to bring him to Barcelona. Laporta does not just value his sporting quality either, although he is sure it would offer a huge leap in quality to the team, but instead also values his marketing value and the image that can be created with him and Lamine Yamal together.
Yet, all things considered, it is also reported that Laporta will be very clear to Nico Williams. Either the player joins now or he never will get the chance to again. The Barcelona train passes only once it seems, and the club president will not hesitate to make it clear to the player.
As it stands, the proposal that Barça have provided to Nico Williams is superior to the one provided by Athletic Club. The Catalan giants have offered a five year deal that would see the player earn €12 million gross annually, and the sporting project is understandably much more ambitious than the one led by the Basque club.
