The 25-year-old has been indicated as a possible solution to Barca’s striker deficit, but it appears he is not going anywhere for now.
Athletic Bilbao ahead Inaki Williams has distanced himself from hints he could be a contender in Barcelona’s search for a new frontman, stating”Athletic is over everything for me.”
The Catalan giants have been granted permission to sign a new striker outside the transfer window after a season-ending harm to Ousmane Dembele.
Rules in Spain stipulate that reinforcements could be brought in out of their designated transfer windows in the event of an emergency, and Barca have seen it confirmed they tick the relevant boxes.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) dictates that players can only be gotten at this time if they’re free agents or connected to a different La Liga club.
Barca also have only a 15-day window to get a deal done.
A string of titles have been linked with a move to Camp Nou as a result, such as Real Sociedad’s Willian Jose, Alves ahead Lucas Perez and Martin Braithwaite of Leganes.
Williams has also been put forward as a possible target. The forward has scored eight goals in 30 appearances in all competitions this season and was a part of the Athletic side that knocked Barca from the Copa del Rey earlier this month.
However, his newest comments suggest he’s pleased at San Mames at for today, despite his admiration for Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.
When asked what his response would be when Barcelona were to come calling, the 25-year-old told El Hormiguero:”Barca is Barca, they’ve Messi, the best player in the world, however Athletic is over everything for me.
“If he could play Athletic, I’d sign Messi.”
Also as Dembele, Barcelona will also be without the services of Luis Suarez after knee surgery, even though they expect the former Liverpool ahead will have the ability to return before the end of the campaign.
That leaves six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi and France global Antoine Griezmann as the club’s only fit senior forward, with only 17-year-old Ansu Fati left to function as a backup following the departures of Carles Perez and Abel Ruiz were sanctioned in January.
