Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion may have been handed a boost in the developing race for Nico Williams, with Barcelona and Real Madrid ‘close to throwing in the towel’.
That’s according to Sport, who say the La Liga duo are only interested in signing the forward on a free transfer and that is close to becoming impossible.
The newspaper explains that the ‘soap opera’ that has been developing around Williams, who is out of contract next summer and yet to sign a new deal, could be about to come to an end.
A long list of clubs, including Aston Villa and Brighton, had been eyeing a move for Williams in the coming months, with him able to negotiate a pre-contract agreement from January due to his expiring deal.
According to Sport’s information, which has seemingly come from information Barcelona have received, negotiations between Athletic and the player have progressed considerably in recent weeks.
They’ve come up with an intermediate solution that would see him extend his contract but agree to a lower release clause for the future. That’s an idea that ‘benefits everyone’.
The everyone would include Aston Villa and Brighton, though, as the new contract would see Barcelona and Real Madrid drop out as they were only ever interested in a free transfer.
The Premier League duo remain ‘very interested’ in the player and remain willing to pay a fee in January if Williams hasn’t signed a new deal by that point.
Even if he does their chances are increased regardless, with two potential major rivals for his signature about to drop out of the race.
