Chelsea Make Contact With Athletic Bilbao for Nico Williams
The London club had been heavily linked with Olise, along with Premier League rivals Newcastle United and Manchester United. However, reports emerged on Friday that the winger has opted to move to Germany instead and join Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.
Chelsea’s links with Olise date back to his youth career where he spent seven years at the club. They pushed to re-sign him 12 months ago, but the 22-year-old, who has been described as ‘astonishing’ by BBC reporter John Bennett, instead opted to extend his contract with Palace and remain at Selhurst Park for at least one further season.
Williams ‘considered’ by Chelsea
He is on the club’s shortlist of potential targets
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Athletic Bilbao’s Williams was considered by the Chelsea board. He reported in his Daily Briefing that the 21-year-old was on their radar last year, but Manchester City’s Cole Palmer instead emerged as the priority target.
“Chelsea have made contact in recent months to understand the conditions of any potential deal for Williams. What I’m told now, is that although the appreciation remains, Chelsea are not advancing on Williams, because of the cost of the deal.”
Romano claims that Chelsea have made contact with the Spanish outfit in recent months to gain an understanding of the player’s situation and what it would take to complete a deal. However, while appreciation of Williams remains, it has been suggested that the significant release clause and wage demands would be too much for Chelsea at this time.
Williams only signed a contract extension with his club in December and it reportedly includes a €58m release clause. The youngster isn’t short of potential suitors, either, with Arsenal, Liverpool, Barcelona and Newcastle all among the clubs rumoured to be interested in Williams.
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