Liverpool have made Nico Williams their clear priority signing of the summer, with reports from Spain now claiming the Athletic Bilbao winger has a house reserved in the city ahead of a move to Anfield. The 22-year-old Spanish international has emerged as the frontrunner to fill the void left by Mohamed Salah, whose departure after nine years brought an end to one of the most decorated individual careers the club has seen. Arne Slot's side are not short of options, but Williams has risen to the top of the list — and the speed at which this move is progressing suggests both parties are serious.
Why the Diomande Deal Fell Apart
As recently as last week, Liverpool were linked heavily with RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande, the 19-year-old Ivory Coast winger who contributed to 23 goals in the Bundesliga last season and carries a release clause of around £86 million. On paper, the profile fit — young, direct, explosive, and already a senior international. But sources close to the negotiations indicate the deal has reached a dead end. Leipzig were unwilling to allow a sale before the World Cup, and Diomande himself was reportedly uncertain about leaving Germany before getting more Champions League experience. Liverpool, working to a tight timeline before the summer transfer window hits its peak, have chosen not to wait.
What Williams Brings to Arne Slot's System
The shift towards Williams makes considerable tactical sense. The younger Williams brother is a different kind of player from Salah — less of a goalscorer in the traditional sense, more of a creator who terrorises defenders with pace and quick feet. He registered 12 assists in La Liga last season to go alongside nine goals, and his ability to play on either flank gives Slot genuine flexibility. Williams' emergence at Euro 2024, where he starred for Spain in their title-winning campaign, announced him to the wider world as one of Europe's most exciting wide players. Athletic Bilbao are understood to be beginning to accept that losing him this summer is inevitable. The Basque club have reportedly started preliminary talks over a replacement, which is the clearest signal yet that a deal is near.
The Fee and the Competition Liverpool Must Beat
Williams has a release clause in his Athletic contract, believed to be in the region of €62 million — a figure that looks increasingly reasonable given what clubs are paying for top attacking talent in 2026. Liverpool are not operating alone in their interest; Real Madrid and Barcelona have both been monitoring his situation for months, and Paris Saint-Germain briefly held serious discussions with his camp earlier in the spring. But the Athletic Bilbao hierarchy and Williams himself appear to favour England, and Liverpool's ability to offer Champions League football next season — secured despite a difficult domestic campaign — gives them an advantage the Spanish giants cannot immediately match. Slot is said to have personally pushed for the signing, convinced that Williams' profile suits his pressing, high-tempo style better than any of the other candidates.
A Summer That Shapes Liverpool's Next Chapter
Salah's departure does not just remove a goalscorer from Liverpool's attack — it removes a leader, a brand, and a decade of accumulated momentum. Getting the replacement right is arguably the most consequential piece of recruitment the club has undertaken since buying Salah himself in 2017. Williams, if the deal comes together, would represent a bold statement of ambition. He is younger than Salah was when he arrived at Anfield, and the expectation would be that he grows into the kind of defining figure that pulls the club forward for the better part of a decade. That is a heavy ask, but it is exactly the kind of challenge that moves like this are built around.
Transfer context: Nico Williams, 22, Spanish international. Club: Athletic Bilbao. Release clause: approx. €62m. 2025–26 stats: 9 goals, 12 assists (La Liga). Previous interest: Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG. Liverpool status: frontrunner, house reportedly reserved. Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig) alternative — deal reported at dead end.
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