Liverpool remain interested in signing Atletic Bilbao forward Nico Williams this summer, but are not willing to match his release clause.
According to Spanish news site, Diario AS, Jurgen Klopp's side can't take their eyes off the 20-year-old, who had a great 2020/21 season for the Bilbao B team.
He scored 9 times, and got 12 assists in that campaign.
Last year, Williams broke out into the first team and despite only bagging three goals, his individual appearances were very strong.
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The Spanish news site claims that the young winger has a style of play that will fit well in the Premier League and that he has come on “leaps and bounds” as a footballer.
Nico, who is the younger brother of Bilbao's star man, Inaki Williams, has a release clause of £42.4 million and it's unlikely the Reds will be able to fork out that much.
They have already spent over £77m this transfer window on Darwin Nunez, Fabio Carvalho and Calvin Ramsay, and that figure could rise further with the Uruguayan forwards' add ons.
They also already have strong forward options to choose from with Mo Salah, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Roberto Firmino to name a few.
But with Salah and Firmino both being on the wrong side of 30, a few years down the line Williams might be the perfect replacement.
If the Spaniards are right about his talent, we can expect to see the young star playing in England soon, but not quite yet.
Ed Arnold