Premier League sides Arsenal and Chelsea will battle it out for the services of Spanish winger Nico Williams in the summer transfer window.
Williams has dazzled in Euro 2024 and has strongly been linked with a summer move to Barcelona but a chance to play in the Premier League might be too good to turn down since the Spanish giants are battling mass debts that restrict their spending within La Liga finance rules.
A report from Sport claims Williams will not initially consider offers from other clubs amid his tunnel-vision for a Barcelona switch and has set a soft deadline for La Blaugrana, telling them not to wait until the last minute to strike a deal.
Rumours suggest that Williams has not categorically ruled out a move to England but is giving Barcelona priority over a deal. And speaking to Catalunya Radio this week, Laporta has assured fans that his club does have the financial capability to land the 21-year-old.
“Economically speaking, we could commit to the signing of Nico Williams,” Laporta said. “Nico’s a player I like, I like him a lot. We are working with [coach Hansi] Flick on possible signings.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool have all been connected with interest in the Spain winger, who has helped Spain to the final of the ongoing Euros. There have been questions over whether any of them would pay out his reported £49m release clause, though.
