Barcelona have everything needed to beat Liverpool to £42m superstar attacker

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FC Barcelona reportedly have all they need in place to land one of the most exciting attackers in football rumoured to be on Liverpool’s radar.

The Reds are yet to make a big move yet in the transfer market after the appointment of Arne Slot, with Liverpool set on offloading players, having already seen some big names leave Merseyside earlier this summer.

That hasn’t stopped Liverpool from being linked with some big names, though, with reports this week linking the Merseyside giants to France international Adrien Rabiot, who is now officially a free agent after leaving Juventus.

Yet Barcelona could now be about to beat Liverpool to a rumoured target.

Barcelona ready to pip Liverpool to Nico Williams signing next week

According to Sport, Barcelona have everything required to activate Nico Williams’ £42m release clause, with Liverpool also chasing the forward. 

The Athletic Club winger established himself as one of the most sought-after attackers in Europe this summer after playing a key role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph, where Williams scored the opener against England.

With Liverpool one of many Premier League clubs chasing Williams, there was a real chance that the Basque forward would have swapped La Liga for the English top-flight this summer.

However, it’s quite apparent that Barcelona are leading the charge to sign Williams, with Liverpool set to miss out on a player who could have thrived at Anfield.

Williams could have been the true successor to Sadio Mane at Anfield

Liverpool have had some difficulty in recent years in trying to replicate the levels of productivity their iconic attack of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah had under Jurgen Klopp.

And had Liverpool signed Williams, Arne Slot would have had his own version of Mane to bring into the starting XI and to shape the next era of the Anfield side’s attack.

Indeed, Williams would have been a more suitable long-term option on the left than Luis Diaz, and the Spanish international could have been perfect in getting the best out of Liverpool’s current young stars who could thrive with a forward as dangerous as the Euros champion.