Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, journalist Pete O’Rourke mentioned that Aston Villa are showing interest in recruiting Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams. It has been claimed that the Villans are eyeing a move to recruit the Spain international this summer.
Williams’ Impressive Numbers In La Liga
Williams had a great campaign at the Spanish club as he managed to put in a series of eye-catching performances for them in the final third. The Spanish winger featured in 37 matches for Athletic Bilbao last season, finding the back of the net eight times and picking up 19 assists in multiple competitions.
The 22-year-old was a reliable performer out on the flanks based on his average of 1.8 shots, 1.5 key passes and 2.8 dribbles per game in La Liga football. He has even distributed possession accurately after completing 79.2% of his attempted passes in the Spanish first division (stats via whoscored).
Williams is under contract at Athletic Bilbao until the summer of 2027 which could make it difficult for the Villans to arrange a cut-price move for him this summer.
Should Aston Villa Boss Unai Emery Go For Williams?
Williams is an excellent dribbler with the ball and can make a few dangerous runs with the ball out in the wide areas. He can strike the ball with power and accuracy from long range and has got the eye to set up some inviting chances for others around him on the offensive end of the field.
The Spanish talent mainly plays as a left-winger but can also serve as a right-sided wide player if told to do so. He would bring more pace and creativity to Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery’s attack.
Williams might even help the Villans challenge across all fronts in the coming seasons. At 22, he has got a bright future ahead of him which makes him a decent choice for the West Midlands club to consider in the long run.
However, Williams might struggle to make a smooth transition to life in the Premier League. Still, Emery would be wise to go for a player of his skill set if he intends to bolster his Aston Villa attack before the end of this transfer period.
