Chelsea are continuing to look at signing wingers in this summer’s transfer window with Nico Williams as their dream addition. Following an excellent season at Athletic Bilbao, the 22-year-old has also shined at Euro 2024 with Spain, which has seen significant transfer interest emerge.
Arsenal, Liverpool and Barcelona have all been linked, alongside the Blues, with Williams recently signing a new contract that includes a €58million (£49m) release clause. While several clubs from the Premier League want to sign him, remaining in Spain looks the most likely outcome.
In recent days, links to Barcelona have become much stronger with the Catalan giants having the financial capabilities to sign Williams. “If they [Barcelona] reach the 1:1 norm, they will be able to do so [sign Williams],” La Liga president Javier Tebas told Spanish news outlet Sport.
“You have to think that with Barcelona’s effort to reduce their wage bill by more than €200 million (£168 million) and other measures that have already taken place within the club and that have nothing to do with the levers, they can perfectly bring in a player like Nico Williams.”
Though Chelsea and Enzo Maresca dream of signing Williams, as per transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, agreeing personal terms would be where the problems lie and to agree a deal, the Blues would need him to significantly lower his wage demands. Having also lost out on Michael Olise, plenty of alternatives have already been considered with PSV’s Johan Bakayoko as one.
Another name has now re-emerged on Chelsea’s shortlist with internal discussions held over a potential move for Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma, as per journalist Ben Jacobs, via The SPTC Podcast.
Upon the arrival of Graham Potter at Stamford Bridge, Mitoma was linked to sealing a reunion with the former Brighton boss. While he stayed put on the south coast, the likes of Marc Cucurella, Robert Sanchez and Moises Caicedo all made the switch which has seen Chelsea give Brighton £225million over the last few years and further deals between the two clubs, therefore, seem unlikely.
Mitoma is coming off the back of a challenging 2023/24 season with the 27-year-old missing the final three months of the season through injury. Though it is said to be unlikely Chelsea formalise their interest, significant changes have already occurred at Brighton with head coach Roberto De Zerbi replaced by Fabian Hurzeler.
With that in mind, the Japan international could still depart and Chelsea are now once again an option as Maresca continues to search for more new signings.
