Liverpool get linked with so many players that you have to wonder from where all the stories originate. The latest rumour almost feels like a case of wires getting crossed somewhere along the line.
The Reds have been repeatedly linked with Inaki Williams over the years. Until his recent move to Nottingham Forest, they had a player called Neco Williams. Mash the two together and you might get Nico Williams, Inaki’s younger brother and the latest player said to be on Liverpool’s transfer radar.
The story appeared in Fichajes a few weeks ago and now AS are getting in on the act. They make clear that Liverpool are not looking to activate Williams’ 50 million euros release clause this summer, which makes sense. What makes this link intriguing is that the 20-year-old winger has made 36 La Liga appearances without registering a single goal or assist.
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In fairness, Williams only started 11 of those games and has had the equivalent of just 15.5 full matches of playing time. For some clubs his lack of output would be a red flag but with Liverpool’s deeply analytical process it’s hard not to wonder if the player ticks a significant statistical box elsewhere.
Williams certainly doesn’t lack confidence, as evidenced by the players with whom he compared himself. “My brother is more physical. He has a lot of pace. I am a dribbler like Neymar, Dembele, and Mbappe,” he said.
That’s a bold comparison to make but his numbers back it up to some extent. Per FBRef, Williams is in the top eight percent (or better) of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s big five leagues for dribbles completed, players dribbled past and carries into the penalty area.
Those are impressive figures for a teenager (he only turned 20 earlier this month), particularly when playing for a mid-table side. Statsbomb have Wilfried Zaha among the players to whom Williams is most statistically similar, and their dribbling numbers bear the match out.
While being fleet of foot will catch the eye, Williams’ work rate is arguably more impressive and will inevitably appeal to Jurgen Klopp. The Bilbao attacker is in the leading group among his positional peers for tackles and pressing in the attacking third, and for total pressures too.
There’s no getting away from his lack of La Liga goals or assists though. If he were to move to Liverpool much would be expected on this front. However, there is evidence that Williams has been unfortunate to draw a blank so far.
Per FBRef, he amassed 3.1 expected goals from his 31 shots in 2021/22. Only one other player in England, France, Germany, Italy or Spain tallied as much xG without scoring: Adri Embarba of Espanyol.
While not as unfortunate on the goal creation front, Williams did still provide 1.5 expected assists, suggesting the finishing of his teammates let him down. Combine the two statistics and you won’t find a big league player who contributed more without directly being involved in a goal last season.
It’s not like he hasn’t scored a senior goal either, just not in the league. Williams’ goal to knock Atletico Madrid out of the Supercopa in January was the most notable of his three, but his performance against Atletico Mancha Real in the Copa del Rey is more relevant.
After opening the scoring, he dribbled into the box from the right and unleashed a curling shot towards the top corner, only to see it rattle back off the woodwork. When put clean through on goal shortly afterwards, he made no mistake to double Bilbao’s lead. There were strong shades of Mohamed Salah in both moments.
Having secured the Egyptian for the next three seasons, Liverpool do not currently need a replacement. However, Williams is out of contract in 2024, so may move next summer as Bilbao won’t want him to leave for nothing.
He could then learn from Salah for two years and still have only just turned 23-years-old when Mo’s current deal ends. This might easily be joining a lot of dots which could be entirely unconnected, but Nico Williams is certainly worth keeping an eye on. His numbers may be about to explode.
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