Premier League quartet monitoring Nico Williams ahead of contract expiry
- Nico Williams' contract at Athletic Club expires in 2024 and no agreement reached yet over new deal
- Aston Villa failed with move for Spain winger in summer transfer window
- Three other Premier League clubs monitoring his situation
Clubs from the Premier League and across Europe are closely monitoring the situation of Athletic Club winger Nico Williams ahead of the expiry of his contract in 2024, sources have confirmed to 90min.
Williams, who turned 21 in July, has announced himself as one of the continent's finest young wingers over the last couple of years, terrorising La Liga defences with his tricky dribbling and searing pace. He has played 91 senior games for Athletic Club, while he has been capped ten times by Spain and was part of their 2022 FIFA World Cup squad.
His rapid progress and development has not gone unnoticed. 90min reported in June that Aston Villa made a push to sign Williams, and while he was tempted to link up with Unai Emery, he ultimately decided to stay in the Basque country.
It was expected that Williams would sign a two-year contract extension over the summer to alleviate any fears from Athletic Club that one of their key assets could walk away for free next year, but as of yet an agreement over a new deal has not been reached. If a new contract is not signed before January, he will be able to speak to other clubs regarding a free transfer in the summer of 2024.
90min understands that Aston Villa remain keen on Williams should he become available, while Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have checked in on him and his situation recently. From mainland Europe, Bayern Munich and Juventus are admirers of the winger, with many of Williams' potential suitors waiting to see how his contract stand-off plays out.
Athletic Club remain confident that Williams will commit his future to his boyhood side, though this already widespread interest is expected to ramp up if he does not put pen to paper on a new contract at the San Mames.
When quizzed about Williams' future recently, Athletic Club president John Uriarte insisted that he is not worried about contract negotiations.
"We feel calm about that. We think he's going to extend and stay with us, this will happen. We want an attractive project, feeling sure that Nico Williams will be part of that for many years to come," he said.
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