Liverpool are reportedly plotting the purchase of Athletic Bilbao’s highly rated winger Inaki Williams in January to strengthen their squad to potentially challenge for silverware this season.
The Reds are thought to be interested in pursuing Inaki Williams from Athletic Bilbao during the January transfer window. The 22-year-old Spaniard is a hot prospect in Europe at the moment owing to his exploits with the Basque club last season. Williams made his first-team debut towards the end of the 2014-15 campaign and has since been a regular feature in the Bilbao starting lineup.
2015-16 turned out to be the defining season for the youngster as he managed to impress and earn a regular place on the right-wing for Bilbao. Williams, throughout the course of an impressive campaign for the Basque club, made 37 appearances in all competitions scoring 13 goals and assisting 6 others. The youngster has since been tied down to a contract which slapped a release clause of £44 million on the player, if he is to be enticed by a move away in the near future.
Mundo Deportivo have come out with claims in recent weeks that Klopp doesn’t want to miss out on Williams’ signature as he bids to plot a potential title charge for the Reds. The German boss has been avidly following the Spaniard’s progress and reportedly speaks of the youngster along the same wavelength as a certain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Liverpool have been eyeing the Bilbao forward for a while now and were in-fact very close to sealing an £18 million deal last January, before he was tied down to a new contract.
The Spanish daily also state the interest in the winger is further fuelled by the lack of players in that position for the Reds and also the potential absence of Sadio Mane in January owing to his participation in the African Cup of Nations for Senegal. Mane is among the only natural wingers Liverpool have in their set-up at the moment and with Sheyi Ojo’s injury status still unclear, the Reds could be left without any players to fill in for the Senegalese when he’s away in January.
William’s positional versatility in attack, pace and aerial prowess will appeal to Klopp and will also help him fit into the system quickly at Liverpool.The Reds necessarily need more reinforcements along the flanks that can help the side penetrate through opponent’s defences and Williams certainly brings that to the fore as well. Having said that, the £44 million price-tag is probably the only factor that could impede the Reds’ pursuit of the player.
