Barcelona have been pushing hard to sign Nico Williams – their top target for this summer’s transfer window. An official announcement on the subject is expected to arrive imminently, but as the wait goes on, those in Catalonia start to become more and more pessimistic.
In fact, Barcelona sources appear to have accepted defeat. According to Diario AS, club officials consider the operation to sign the 22-year-old sensation to be “practically dead”, citing “the pressure of his family and Athletic Club” as being the main culprits for their inability to secure his signature.
Barcelona openly acknowledges that signing Nico Williams is becoming increasingly unlikely. Reliable club sources now consider the deal nearly dead, blaming "pressure from his family and Athletic Club". Even calls from Alejandro Balde, one of his best friends at Barcelona,…
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) July 30, 2024
Because of this, the Williams operation is frozen, which means that Barcelona’s pursuit of Dani Olmo is set to pick up. The former La Masia star is considered to be the “Plan B” option, although efforts would have been made to sign him even if Williams were to join.
Barcelona are said to be very optimistic of bringing Olmo back to the club, nine years after he left for Dinamo Zagreb. They’re aiming to move on quickly from the Williams rejection, if/when it does come.