The pros and cons of signing both Nico Williams and Dani Olmo for Barcelona – Analysis

Nico Williams and Dani Olmo have both been essential to Spain’s victorious Euros campaign, resulting in a significant increase in interest in their services in the market. Among others, Barcelona is looking to reinforce their squad with both of the Spanish heroes on their wishlist despite the club’s delicate financial situation.

Given the traditional similarities between the playing styles of both Barcelona and the Spanish national team, it’s no surprise that players who excel in one are expected to replicate their performance in the other.

With De La Fuente’s tactical adjustments—particularly involving these two players—leading to continental success, why shouldn’t they be cornerstones of Barcelona’s future under the new era of Hansi Flick?

Their individual talent and quality to compete at the highest level are no longer in question. However, given the circumstances, other factors must be considered before making such significant transfers. Let’s dissect whether Barcelona should sign both Williams and Olmo by examining three key points.

1. Would Nico Williams work at Barcelona?

Barcelona’s troubled history when it comes to recruiting wingers is well known, especially the left wing spot which has been subject to constant change in recent years. While in Lamine Yamal, the Catalans have a generational talent in their hands, there is no denying that assistance would be beneficial to get the best out of both, and Nico proved to form a more than capable duo with the 17-year-old phenomenon.

The need for a winger like Williams was already evident during the past years, Xavi’s system being heavily reliant on wingers who stretch the pitch and create chaos from the wide areas with their quick feet and 1v1 skills. The lack of such a player caused numerous experiments on a systemic level and in terms of personnel too, but eventually, the desired profile wasn’t found.

Now this can all change with the arrival of the 22-year-old Basque winger who not only would be a quality addition to the roster but one who can elevate the whole system with his playstyle, taking some pressure off of his peers, enabling them to operate easier in their comfort zones and thus, maximize their potential while remaining a constant threatening presence from the wing.

Nico is a traditional winger whose speed, agility, and dribbling proficiency make him a nightmare for any opposing defender, being a versatile weapon in multiple phases of play – utilizing his speed in transitions and his ability to beat his man on his own and create out of thin air against low blocks coming in handy.

While this presence alone gives new options for the team, his quality as a more than capable creator and a dangerous finisher – with both feet – makes him the complete, ideal package, not to mention his defensive work done both directly (ex: tracking back and marking his man) and indirectly (drawing away multiple opposing players and preventing counters) on the pitch.

2. Would Dani Olmo work at Barcelona?

Initially seen as an alternative to Nico Williams in case the club fails to sign the Athletic Club winger, now Barcelona wants to sign Olmo regardless of what happens with the other operation which, based on his stellar performance at the Euros, is not a big surprise at all. But is it really necessary?

Olmo is a gifted attacking midfielder, a ’10’ if you like, who is also capable of occupying multiple other positions and roles on the pitch. Due to his versatile skillset and great adaptability, he can also play on either wing or even as a false 9, offering different solutions and variability to the coach, which Luis Enrique utilized a lot during his time with Spain.

Emerging from Barcelona’s academy, the now 26-year-old Spaniard first moved to Dinamo Zagreb to get valuable playtime to develop, and his outstanding performances in Croatia earned him a transfer to RB Leipzig, where he has been making strides since his arrival in 2020, sadly, injuries also hindered his career in Germany.

So probably that’s the reason why the player hasn’t had such a spectacular breakthrough at his current club yet, suffering from injuries and setbacks several times, but his talent was never in doubt. Now at 26, just entering his prime and already an important cog in the success of club and country, this might be the perfect time to make the next step.

As your typical La Masia midfielder, Olmo stands out for his excellent technique and awareness on the pitch. Predominantly positioned high up the pitch, he looks to combine with fellow attackers when receiving or utilizing his exquisite technique and dribbling to get past defenders, ready to create for his peers or finish it on his own.

What Olmo could add to the Blaugrana midfield that might not already be there is much more directness when it comes to involvement in goals. Naturally an attacking midfielder, he has a knack for finding the space to attack and finish, and isn’t afraid to take shots regularly. In Hansi Flick’s system, such a 10 could be a great fit.

3. Would Nico Williams and Dani Olmo work together?

As we could see at the Euros, Williams and Olmo are not just able to work together but their profiles enable them to get the best out of each other. In Spain’s 4-2-3-1, the three-man line of Nico, Lamine, and Olmo – ready to reunite at Barcelona – acted as the motors of La Roja’s attacking scheme, combined for 6 goals and 7 assists to help them clinch the title.

Nico’s tendency to stretch the play and take on defenders, drawing additional help from the opposition, creates more space in the inside areas and allows the midfielders – and especially the 10 – to operate easier in the central, more dangerous attacking zones. This also allows Yamal to take on a more free role and unleash his creativity drifting inside.

The idea of recreating the same dynamics seen at the national team obviously brings great excitement to the Catalans’ camp, and there’s no doubt that they would be massive additions to the Blaugrana’s offense. Even more so, if taking Hansi Flick’s Bayern as a tactical blueprint, it can be synchronized with Spain’s victorious 4-2-3-1 setup, and the plan seems perfect.

However, it’s not that simple. Barcelona finds themselves in a not-so-pleasant financial state, an issue that neither of the aforementioned teams had to face. This implies a cautious approach when it comes to spending big money and the inevitable need to make sacrifices to be able to sign players of such caliber. So, are both of these players worth it?

Seeing the Catalan club’s troubles with left-wingers, Nico Williams seems like the perfect candidate that Barcelona should go after. As for Olmo, however, he would be more of a luxury signing right now which is not allowed in the club’s current state, whereas other voided positions are left without much-needed reinforcement.

Pedri (who was initially the starter for Spain and benched Olmo until his injury) and Gündoğan (who successfully showcased his ability to play this exact role at Germany and Manchester City as well) can also occupy his role, while a defensive midfielder remains an urgent target to be pursued.

All in all, while both players would undoubtedly add to the team, Nico Williams should be the priority signing, and depending on who might actually leave Catalonia in order to make room for further operations, Olmo could be the next big target, but not a necessary one.