Aston Villa fail in club-record attempts to sign Athletic Bilbao forward Nico Williams – report
Aston Villa have failed in their attempts to sign Athletic Bilbao wonderkid Nico Williams, with the club prepared to pay his £45million release clause, according to Daily Mail journalist Dominic King.
The 22-year-old has emerged as one of Europe’s most exciting young forwards following his rapid emergence in the Athletico Bilbao first team over the past year alongside his brother, Inaki.
Unai Emery has already signed off on two new arrivals this month with Alex Moreno arriving [11 January] from Real Betis to compete with Lucas Digne at left-back, while Colombia international Jhon Duran sealed [23 January] an £18m move from MLS side Chicago Fire on Monday.
With Emery looking to bolster his attacking department with a winger this month, Williams has emerged as a top target, however, a move for the young superstar may prove incredibly difficult.
According to Daily Mail journalist King, the 22-year-old does not want to leave the Basque country, as the Villans were prepared to pay his £45million release clause.
However, the Villans have enquired about another fledgling young talent Luis Henrique, with Emery looking to continue his raid of La Liga outfit Betis.
Writing on his personal Twitter account, he tweeted [24 January]: “Aston Villa have failed with a club record bid to sign Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao. Prepared to pay £45million release clause but Williams didn’t want to leave the Basque country. Unai Emery has enquired about Luiz Henrique as an alternative at Real Betis”
Ambitious
With Emery desperately looking to strengthen his attack this month, attempting to acquire the services of Williams seems incredibly ambitious considering his undoubted potential and huge ceiling.
However, the Villans are prepared to break the bank for talent, a player they can build an exciting team around with Emery at the helm and Williams could well have fitted the bill perfectly.
It’s unlikely, the Villans would manage to sign Henrique this month, but again it’s another sign of their potential spending power in providing Emery with the tools he needs to drive the club into a new horizon.
It is exciting times for the West Midlands club, especially considering their terrific Premier League form since Emery’s appointment, and the club can only boost morale even more by spending big this month.