Barcelona run into two major problems in their bid to sign Nico Williams

Barcelona’s interest in Nico Williams has picked up serious pace in recent days, and the player is reportedly eager to make the switch.

However, according to Mundo Deportivo, the Catalan club face two significant obstacles that could derail the move despite his willingness to join.

For now, the club still considers Luis Diaz the main target to strengthen the left wing, but bringing him in from Liverpool is far from simple.

The Premier League club currently have no plans to entertain offers for the Colombian, and even if they change their stance, the asking price is expected to be no less than €60 million..

In comparison, Nico has a clear release clause set at €58 million, which rises to around €64 million when adjusted for inflation (CPI).

On the surface, this makes his transfer more straightforward. But from Barcelona’s point of view, the structure of the payment is actually a problem.

Athletic Club insists on full payment upfront. For a club still managing a financial recovery, this represents a heavy burden.

Signing Nico Williams is not going to be easy for Barcelona. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

Barça might need to secure a line of credit to make such a payment, a strategy they have used before, but it is not a decision they take lightly in the current context.

There is also a political layer complicating matters. Relations between Barcelona and Athletic Club are at a low point.

The Basque club has been one of the loudest critics of Barcelona, voicing concerns over issues like financial fair play, the Negreira case, and registration-related tensions involving Dani Olmo and Pau Victor.

These strained ties make the Barcelona board hesitant to inject cash into a rival that has openly questioned them.

Adding to the difficulty is the fact that Barcelona already spent over €25 million on Joan Garcia, which has drained immediate liquidity.

If Barça proceed with any target Deco is exploring, they expect to be able to negotiate payment in instalments.

So, while Nico Williams may seem like the easier option on paper, the realities of strained club relations and tight financial constraints continue to make the transfer a difficult puzzle to solve.