Cash-strapped Barcelona can afford Nico Williams! Huge transfer claim from Joan Laporta ahead of potential move to unite Athletic Club talent with Spain co-star Lamine Yamal

The 21-year-old winger is currently catching the eye for his country at Euro 2024. A collection of impressive performances, which have helped La Roja into the semi-finals of that competition, are attracting admiring glances from across Europe.

Williams has stated that his intention is to remain in Bilbao for the foreseeable future, but that has done little to quieten the speculation that he continues to generate. Leading sides in the Premier League are said to have the youngster on their recruitment radar, while Barca are also in the mix.

The Blaugrana have struggled to complete important business in recent times – with Lionel Messi departing Camp Nou in 2021 as the money was not there for a new contract – but Laporta insists that the Catalan giants can afford Williams. He has told Catalunya Radio: “It is Nico's responsibility. We are working on the operations that [Hansi] Flick asks of us. Today we can afford to sign Nico Williams. We can deal with a signing like Nico's.”

Any move for Williams, who has emerged as one of the most exciting forwards in Europe, would see him united with Spain team-mate Lamine Yamal in Barcelona – with the 16-year-old wonderkid another of those to be making plenty of headlines on the European Championship stage.