Spain sensation Nico Williams could prove the bargain buy of the summer

 

Williams was superb in Spain's 1-0 win over Italy and has a low release clause...

 

Giovanni Di Lorenzo must have breathed a sign of relief when, in the 78th minute, he looked up and saw Nico Williams trudging off the Arena AufSchalke turf. The 30-year-old endured a nightmare evening as the Athletic Club star relentlessly targeted the right-back in Spain's eventual 1-0 win over Italy. 

 

In truth, La Roja should have won by more, and it was only an inspired performance from captain Gianluigi Donnarumma and the woodwork that kept the Azzurri in the Group B contest. Spain's dominance was largely down to the wingers keeping the full-backs on the backfoot. Neither Di Lorenzo nor Federico Dimarco were able to press forward with both Williams and Lamine Yamal terrorising the Italian pair. 

 

Barcelona will undoubtedly keep Yamal this summer, the 16-year-old tied down to a contract that runs until June 2026 and contains a €1bn release clause. The same, though, cannot be said of Williams. After another superb display, it was once again revealed the 21-year-old's release clause is just €50m. 

 

Having been instrumental in Athletic Club's Copa Del Rey success and a fifth-placed finish in La Liga, interest in Williams is understandably high. The showing against Italy showed why a number of Premier League suitors are monitoring the winger. Barcelona are also keeping tabs on the Spaniard as they look to replicate Spain's starting wide pair at club level. 

 

 

Those watching Williams for the first time at the Euros will have been suitably impressed with what they have seen so far. And yet this was just a small sample size of the sort of performances La Liga aficionados and Athletic Club fans have witnessed week in, week out over the course of the season. 

 

Williams completed four dribbles against Italy on Thursday night and the ability to rinse a full-back shouldn't come as a surprise. After all, only Girona's Savinho completed more dribbles (104) than the Spain international (86) in Spain's top tier last term. He's exactly the sort of direct left winger that the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham could fully utilise in the Premier League next season. 

 

That's not to say he's the most consistent of dribblers, noted in that he ended the 2023/24 La Liga campaign with a 44.6% dribble success rate, but the willingness to pick himself up and try and beat a marker time and time again is a trait that should be applauded. While there is work to be done to refine this side to Williams' game, the determination to pick himself up and get back to running at markers points to a never-say-die attitude. 

 

 

What's important, too, is that while Williams is right-footed, he's not necessarily restricted to using that foot. Indeed, as we saw on Thursday night, he dropped the shoulder, burst down the left flank and put in a testing ball into the box that Riccardo Calafiori inevitably turned into his own net. Again, this shouldn't come as a surprise to those who watch Williams regularly. He ranked 14th in La Liga for total crosses, excluding corners (109), in La Liga last season and this will suit sides that will often look to put the ball into the box. 

 

Interested party Liverpool made the fifth most crosses excluding corners per game (14.7) in the Premier League last season, a metric Tottenham (14.4) ranked sixth for. They'd benefit from a winger of Williams' skillset, especially as he brings that unpredictability of either using his right or left foot in the final third. Only Villarreal's Alex Baena (14) registered more assists than Williams (11) in Spain's top tier last term and if he can transfer his electrifying league and Euros form to a new league, then his next side will have an unbelievable talent at their disposal. 

 

While the winger himself is reportedly holding out for a move to Barcelona, the Blaugrana need to raise funds to finance a move for Williams, which would work in Premier League suitors' favour. His 78-minute showing against Italy was just one example of what Williams can bring to his next side. With such a low release clause, the winger could prove the signing of the summer.

Spain sensation Nico Williams could prove the bargain buy of the summer