Agony for Barcelona as PSG make contact with Spanish youngster

Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly set their sights on Athletic Club’s rising star Nico Williams as they look to replace the attacking gap left by Kylian Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid.

According to The Athletic, the French giants are interested in bringing the 22-year-old left-winger to the French capital this summer despite his contract running until 2027 and hope to exploit Williams' current deal which includes a release clause.

Williams recently played a crucial role in helping Spain secure their fourth Euro title, contributing directly to three goals in six games, further raising his reputation and reports suggest that PSG have made “tentative” contact with the Spanish winger as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season.

While the exact value of Williams' release clause is not publicly known, it is believed to be in the range of €55 to €60 million, making Williams a more attractive option at left wing than more expensive names like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Rafael Leao.

The news of PSG’s interest in Williams is a blow to Barcelona, who have long been admirers of the young winger. A move for Williams to PSG not only deprives Barcelona of a promising talent but also strengthens one of their main rivals in European football.

Barcelona’s financial constraints mean that losing out on Williams could have significant repercussions for their long-term plans, as the Blaugrana are unlikely to find a cheaper option with the quality of the young forward.

For PSG, securing a player of Williams' calibre would be a major coup, considering that they had not shown interest in the 21-year-old forward before the successful Euro 2024 campaign, and would be taking the youngster from right under Barcelona’s noses.