By SABC Sport
20th July 2024
According to Spanish publication Sport, club president Joan Laporta has given the green light, and Barca are financially ready to make a substantial impact. Optimism is said to be high within the club, as both deals are progressing smoothly.
In recent weeks, Barcelona have been debating the potential acquisitions of Olmo and Williams. The consensus is that these players represent excellent market opportunities and that now is the time to make a concerted effort to significantly enhance the squad's quality.
The parallel negotiations have been solidified by the players' clear willingness to join Barcelona.
Barcelona's timeline is clear, with potential developments expected as early as next week, particularly regarding Nico Williams. The club are optimistic about signing the Athletic Bilbao winger on a five-year contract with an optional additional year.
Plans are reportedly in place to activate his release clause of 58 million euros, ideally before the team embarks on their tour of the United States, though a slight delay is possible. The final trigger for the deal will be the player's definitive approval.
For Dani Olmo, Barcelona have strategically waited for the expiration of his 60 million euros release clause at RB Leipzig. The club believe that negotiating without a fixed price could be advantageous. Despite interest from Manchester City and Bayern Munich, Olmo's priority is to return to Barcelona, which could be a decisive factor.
Barcelona are reportedly preparing an offer of around 50 million euros plus add-ons, which they believe will be sufficient to secure the highly valued player. Olmo's versatility, capable of playing in all attacking positions, is highly regarded by the club's technical staff and sporting director Deco, who has been a key figure in maintaining the negotiation over the past months.
The Catalans are confident that next week will mark the achievement of the 1-1 salary cap rule, supported by expected revenue from new agreements, including a renewed contract with Nike, additional sponsorship deals, and the likely sale of Barca Vision. This financial stability has been meticulously planned to enable high-calibre signings.
If Barcelona finalise these two deals in the coming days, the club will assemble the core attack of the Spanish national team, recent European Championship winners. More importantly, they will be acquiring young, highly skilled players who can lead a new era of success for many years. This is Joan Laporta's grand strategy to challenge Real Madrid and compete for all major titles.