Why Chelsea need “super creative” transfer plan to land elite winger after down year | OneFootball

Now that Liam Delap is signed up and imminently arriving at Chelsea, focus can turn to the other positions of need. We know that a centre back is on the list – but what of a left winger?

Nico Williams remains in demand despite down year

Nico Williams playing for Athletic Bilbao.

There’s been a lot of Jamie Gittens chat, but there have to be other options out there, and one of them at the very top of the list is Nico Williams. The Athletic Bilbao star was the talk of football a year ago after his superb performances in the Euros, but has had something of a down 12 months to follow.

Still, his age and talent means there’s still huge demand for him, and big demand means a big price tag and big wages.

On the London is Blue podcast, Matt Law sounded pretty unconvinced by rumours linking us to Williams, pointing out that the cost of the transfer plus his wages would probably rule him out as a Chelsea target.

“If you’re buying Nico Williams, you’re paying €60m down straight away, and that’s a massive commitment,” Law said.

“And then his wages basically equate to about £300,000 a week. So again, you’ve got to get super creative on the wages to get him in line with Chelsea.”

You can see his comments in the clip embedded here:

Many moving parts if Chelsea want to secure talented Spain star

If the Blues were able to sell Raheem Sterling this summer, and the rumours about Noni Madueke going were also true, and if there is a buyer for Christopher Nkunku and for Joao Felix, that would clear enough budget and wage bill to make a move of this magnitude happen.

But that is a lot of “ifs,” and right now it doesn’t feel realistic.