Chelsea is currently eyeing Athletic Club winger Nico Williams, along with other clubs, but the possibility of a summer bid for the 21-year-old will depend on various factors as per sources from ESPN. Williams recently signed a new contract with his Spanish club, which includes a release clause of around €50 million ($71m). Despite being a relatively low amount for a promising talent, the previous agreement expiration in June put Athletic Club at risk of losing him for nothing.
The presence of the release clause, combined with Williams’ impressive performance this season, where he has scored six goals and provided 11 assists, has attracted the attention of Chelsea. Additionally, sources in Spain have confirmed that Arsenal and Liverpool have also scouted the young winger.
Chelsea’s main focus this summer is to secure a striker, with Victor Osimhen from Napoli and Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig being top targets. However, their ability to make significant moves in the transfer market will heavily rely on player sales. The club recently reported a pre-tax loss of £90.1m ($117m) for the year ending June 30, 2023, following a similar loss in the previous year.
Since the takeover by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital in May 2022, Chelsea has spent over £1 billion on player acquisitions. Despite this, they have managed to recoup around £400m through player sales. The club asserts that they are compliant with both the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules and UEFA’s financial fair play regulations, but their financial flexibility for squad investments appears limited.
Potential Signings and Alternatives
While Nico Williams remains a target, Chelsea’s pursuit of a forward like Osimhen is likely to take precedence. However, signing Osimhen could prove costly due to his €130m release clause, with competition from Paris Saint-Germain also in the mix. As a more affordable option, Sesko’s reported €50m release clause could make him an attractive alternative. Ivan Toney from Brentford is another possibility, although the club’s high valuation of £80m for the 27-year-old in January could pose a challenge.
Any potential move for Williams could raise uncertainties about the futures of existing Chelsea wingers such as Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk, and Noni Madueke. While there is no indication yet that these players will be put up for sale at the end of the season, Chelsea is expected to offload several squad members in the upcoming transfer window. Conor Gallagher, in particular, has been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur.
Chelsea’s pursuit of Nico Williams presents both sporting and financial challenges. While the young winger shows significant promise on the field, the club’s financial constraints may hinder their ability to secure his services without first addressing other pressing transfer priorities. Balancing the desire for new talent with the need to comply with financial regulations will be a delicate task for the Chelsea hierarchy in the upcoming transfer window.