Matteo Moretto: Chelsea unwilling to pay Nico Williams’ release clause

Athletic Club winger Nico Willems is currently the star attraction and, with a €58 million release clause, appears to be a relatively affordable option for many of Europe’s biggest clubs. Barcelona have a long-standing interest in Williams, while Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool have all been linked with him recently.

It was reported on Sunday afternoon that Chelsea have turned their attention to Williams as a priority target for the winger position following Michael Aulis’ decision to join Bayern Munich. However, Matteo Moretto told Spanish Football that Chelsea are not currently considering a deal for Williams due to cost concerns. They believe Williams’ release clause and the 21-year-old’s salary demands are currently outside their capabilities.

This is somewhat surprising as Olise is set to move to Bayern for a similar fee, although his salary requirements are unclear. Sporting have been known to not negotiate for their star players, instead demanding full release clauses. The fact that Chelsea cannot afford Williams’ fee – even within five years – is perhaps an important part to consider as it is believed they are complying with the Premier League’s financial rules.