Nico Williams is on everyone's lips. The Athletic winger has surprised this season, and his performance at the Euros is fueling rumors about his transfer to Barça.
Although nothing has been signed yet, at Can Barça they see his signing as imminent. Hansi Flick likes the player a lot, and Deco has reportedly already given the green light to the operation.
His release clause is around €58 million, which would rise to €62 million with inflation (CPI). It's a high figure, but manageable if the club manages to free up wage bill space with some departures.
For Athletic, his departure would be a heavy blow. Nico is not only a key piece in Valverde's system, but also one of the symbols of the project.
Rashford, in the pipeline… but with obstacles
At the same time, Barça aren't ruling out further strengthening its attack. Marcus Rashford, from Manchester United, has shown interest in joining the Catalan club. He would even be willing to reduce his salary, which is currently over €20 million per year.
However, from the Barça board, they see his arrival as only feasible through a loan. United is asking for €48 million for his transfer, a figure out of reach for the Catalans unless there are major sales.
In addition, they would only agree to pay a maximum of 60% of his salary. The problem is that if Nico arrives, the scenario changes completely.
Nico marks his territory: "There's no room"
Nico Williams's signing would alter all of Barça's offensive planning. With Lamine Yamal established on the right, Raphinha as an alternative, and now Nico for the left, there's no space for another winger.
That's where Rashford's name loses strength. The Englishman would have to take on a secondary role, coming off the bench as an impact substitute. That's something neither the player nor the club are fully convinced about.
Moreover, from Nico's camp, it has already been hinted that he doesn't want direct competition in his area. If he joins Barça, he wants to be a protagonist. He hasn't left Athletic to be just another player.
Ansu Fati and others will leave… but it's not enough
Barça needs to lighten the squad. Ansu Fati is first in line to leave, and others like Ferran Torres or João Félix could also depart. Even so, it doesn't seem enough to make room for Rashford if Nico joins.
The priority is clear: close the Williams deal. Then, if conditions allow, a possible arrival of the Englishman will be considered.