Barcelona could miss out on dream target Nico Williams as Bayern Munich enter race

Barcelona are set to face a fierce battle for dream target Nico Williams as Bayern Munich join race for the Athletic Club star.

According to Florian Plettenberg, the Bavarians have named the 22-year-old as a top target for next summer amid plans to reshuffle their attacking depth.

Barca were heavily linked with a move for Williams after his dazzling display for Spain in the 2024 European Championship but failed to get a deal over the line.

They focused their efforts on Williams’ international teammate Dani Olmo, forking out around €50 million to snap up the Spaniard from RB Leipzig.

Despite that decision, Barca are still strongly interested in Williams, although securing his signature may not be straightforward next summer.

Barca are keen to reinforce their attacking options and have been linked with a number of wingers, including AC Milan’s Rafael Leao, Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Liverpool’s Luis Diaz, and Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford.

Williams remains their primary target, and multiple reports have claimed that the talented winger is also open to joining the Catalan giants in 2025.

However, Bayern’s presence in the race for the Euro 2024 winner could throw a wrench into Barca’s plans.

The Bundesliga pacesetters are also looking to recruit at least one winger amid uncertainty surrounding the futures of Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman, Bryan Zaragoza, and Leroy Sane.

Williams has now emerged on Bayern’s radar, and club directors Max Eberl and Christoph Freund are seriously considering a big-money move for the winger.

The Athletic Club star has a contract that runs until the summer of 2027, but he could leave the Basque outfit for a fee of around €60m.

Barca might have a longstanding interest in Williams, but they’ll struggle to match Athletic’s asking price, which tips the scales in Bayern’s favour, handing them a clear run if they decide to pursue a deal.

Williams also has plenty of admirers in the Premier League, with Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool among those interested in the talented forward.