Barcelona target matched Ousmane Dembélé as Europe’s best in one category last season

A head-turning statistic surrounding the exploits of in-demand Athletic Club star Nico Williams this past season has come to the fore online.

And the stat in question will no doubt go on to turn heads across the fanbase of fellow La Liga outfit Barcelona.

It is of course Spanish football’s worst-kept secret that Barcelona have identified wide-man Williams as their no.1 transfer target, with a view to next season.

The 22-year-old – fresh off a scintillating showing at Euro 2024 with Spain – has been identified as the missing piece from incoming Barca headmaster Hansi Flick’s attacking ranks.

And, when taking a look at the statistics, it is not difficult to see why.

As revealed by Opta, Nico was one of only two players across Europe’s top-five leagues to rack up nine assists following a ball carry over the course of the 2023/24 season.

The other? An ex-Blaugrana winger, in Ousmane Dembélé..

Deco and co. will be hopeful that, in the case of his arrival ultimately coming to fruition, Williams’ time at the Camp Nou ends on a more positive note than that of Dembélé…

Conor Laird | GSFN