Liverpool have emerged as favourites to sign Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams this summer as they prepare for life after Mohamed Salah. Williams’ proposed €80m move — driven by doubts over Bilbao’s new project and a long, expensive contract — would address Liverpool’s urgent need for pace and width, while cheaper, pragmatic alternatives such as Jarrod Bowen are also being discussed internally.
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Liverpool look set to prioritise a wide attacker this summer after Mohamed Salah’s departure, with Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams now front and centre of transfer talk. The 22-year-old offers explosive pace and one-on-one threat that fits Liverpool’s front three template, and the club is said to be in the box seat to sign him for a fee in the region of €80m.
Why Williams is an attractive fit for Liverpool
Williams brings directness, acceleration and the ability to stretch defences on the right or left flank — traits Liverpool have historically valued under their front-three system. At Anfield, his explosive dribbling could recreate the wide overloads that fuelled Salah’s influence, while offering a younger, athletic profile to evolve alongside Darwin Núñez and other attacking options.
Club dynamics at Athletic Bilbao that could push a move
Changes at Athletic Bilbao — including a managerial switch — appear to have altered Williams’ standing within the club. His contract, renewed until 2035, carries a reported net salary approaching €10m per season, a figure Bilbao view as unsustainable if on-field output does not improve. That mismatch between expectations, compensation and the club’s new direction makes a summer exit more likely.
Financial picture: price tag and contract complications
An €80m asking price plus a heavyweight wage makes Williams an expensive but profile-appropriate target. For Liverpool, the outlay would represent a direct investment in a player around whom a new right-side attacking dynamic could be built. The long-term contract at Bilbao complicates negotiations but also gives the selling club leverage to demand a premium.
Alternative route: Jarrod Bowen as a pragmatic, value-for-money option
Liverpool are also linked with cheaper, lower-risk options such as Jarrod Bowen, who could be available at a markedly lower fee following his club’s difficult season. Bowen offers Premier League-proven goal threat, versatility across the front line and a more straightforward financial proposition — traits that would make him an appealing, pragmatic short-term solution.
What Bowen would offer and why he’s considered “no risk”
Bowen’s strengths are direct: consistent goal involvement, durability and experience in English football. Unlike a blockbuster signing, he would likely deliver an immediate return without the adaptation period some continental talents need. That makes him attractive if Liverpool choose to prioritise value and squad balance over a marquee signing.
Strategic considerations for Liverpool this summer
Liverpool face a strategic choice: invest heavily in a high-ceiling talent like Williams who matches their tactical profile but demands a large fee and wages, or pursue proven Premier League options offering immediate stability and lower financial risk. The decision will hinge on squad-wide priorities — reinvesting Salah’s output, shoring up other areas and balancing long-term succession planning.
What this transfer window could decide
If Liverpool pursue Williams, it signals an intent to maintain a high-octane, pace-first approach on the flanks and to pay for potential rather than short-term certainty. Opting for Bowen or similar would indicate a pragmatic pivot toward cost-effective recruitment and squad depth. Either path will shape Liverpool’s attacking identity for the next cycle.
Next steps and likely timeline
Expect intensified negotiations through the summer transfer window, with medicals and formal announcements contingent on fee agreement and wage structure.
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Liverpool’s recruitment team will weigh stylistic fit, cost, and squad needs before committing — a process that should clarify their long-term plan on the right flank in the coming weeks.
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