Aston Villa begin stunning transfer hijack as 'talks held' with £49m Liverpool & Newcastle United target

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One of the summer’s transfer sagas appears to have taken another twist

Spain Euro 2024 hero Nico Williams is a player in demand this summer with a host of Premier League clubs battling La Liga giants Barcelona for his signature.

The Athletic Club star has a reported release clause of £49m in his contract, which runs until the summer of 2027. Speculation over the player’s future has been rife throughout Euro 2024, with Williams featuring in six of Spain’s seven games with two goals and one assist to his name. He scored the opening goal in the final in Berlin as La Roja defeated England 2-1 to win their third European Championship since 2008 and their fourth overall.

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Earlier this week, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claimed Barca were preparing to begin advanced talks with the player’s representatives as they seek to reach an agreement before a Premier League side make a move for the winger.

However, Villa now appear to have made their move for the winger as they bid to hijack Barca’s plans, according to TEAMtalk. With Moussa Diaby the subject of interest from the Saudi Pro League, Williams is said to be seen as the ideal replacement. Unai Emery’s side reportedly want £60m for Diaby before sanctioning a move, and those funds would be reinvested almost immediately to try and secure a deal for Williams.

According to the report from TEAMtalk, Villa have held talks with the Spaniard’s representatives as they seek to come to an agreement amid fierce competition from Premier League rivals and Barca. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle United have all been credited with an interest in Williams but Athletic Club appear just as determined to keep him.

A club statement released last week said: "Nico, a footballer very committed to Athletic Club, has been subjected to a bombardment of questions about his future in an excessive and uncontrolled manner, when he is concentrated to compete in the Euro Cup by the Spanish Football Federation, which has not known how to protect him. Athletic aspires to the maximum, without limits. We are showing that we have an attractive and winning project for our players and coach. The proof is that we have recently renewed two of our internationals, Simón (2029) and Vivian (2031), Nico.

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"He signed last year until 2027, and coveted players such as Oihan Sancet, Benat Prados, Julen Agirrezabala, and Aitor Paredes have also been committed for several seasons, to give some examples. Athletic Club is economically, socially and sportingly capable of keeping footballers of the calibre of those named in its structure, including Nico Williams."

The player himself said at a press conference during Euro 2024: “I’m very happy at Athletic. It’s the club that has given me everything, the one that has bet on me 100 per cent. It’s my home. I’m very happy. And what I want to do is focus on the European Championship 100%. Otherwise, I don’t know what’s going to happen. I have told my agent that I don’t want to know anything until the end of the European Championship.”

Now the Euros have come to an end, Williams will have more time to consider his future. He is not short of offers, as Villa look to bolster their options with a statement signing ahead of the 2024-25 campaign that will see them compete in the Champions League.

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