Liverpool Close In on Nico Williams Deal as Salah Era Ends

Liverpool look set to move quickly on Mohamed Salah's departure, with the Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams emerging as the leading target to fill the void left by the Egyptian's exit.

Salah played his final match for the Reds on Sunday, a 1-1 draw against Brentford, and the club are now preparing to reshape their attacking options. While Cody Gakpo's underwhelming season on the left wing has raised questions about depth, the Merseyside outfit could pursue multiple wide players before the summer window closes.

Reports from Spain suggest a breakthrough is imminent for Williams, who has become increasingly disillusioned with developments at San Mamés. The departure of Ernesto Valverde, under whom Williams flourished, has left the player unconvinced by incoming manager Edin Terzic's vision. With Athletic Bilbao's new project no longer centred around the 21-year-old as it once was, his future at the club appears untenable.

Williams' contract situation adds further complexity. Athletic handed him a mammoth deal through 2035, but his salary—approaching €10million net annually—has become a concern for the Basque club given his recent performances. This impasse has opened the door for Liverpool, who have already held preliminary discussions and are regarded as clear favourites to secure his services. Williams' camp believes a Premier League move could provide the platform for a career reset, though Liverpool will need to stump up around €80m to get the deal across the line.

The Reds have also been scouted targets including Yan Diomande, Bradley Barcola, and Anthony Gordon, but Williams represents the marquee option should negotiations progress.

Not everyone at Anfield is fixated on the premium-priced route, however. Danny Murphy, the former Liverpool midfielder, has made a compelling case for Jarrod Bowen as a pragmatic alternative. With West Ham's relegation to the Championship, the England winger could become available for roughly £20m—a fraction of what Liverpool would typically spend on a top-tier right-winger.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Murphy outlined the logic: "I wouldn't be disappointed seeing him at Liverpool. He's got goals in him, assists, and he's durable. I think he's good enough."

Murphy acknowledged that Bowen doesn't fit Liverpool's traditional recruitment blueprint—younger players with resale potential—but argued the value proposition is compelling. "You're going to have to pay £50m to £80m for genuine quality on that right-hand side," he noted. "But with him dropping to the Championship, you're probably looking at £20m, maybe £30m at most. If it was £20m and he's keen to escape, then it's no risk."

When quizzed about handing Bowen Salah's number 11 shirt, Murphy remained measured: "I wouldn't put that on him. If he wanted it, fine, but I wouldn't lose sleep over it."

The former midfielder stressed Liverpool needn't abandon their pursuit of elite talent—citing Kvicha Kvaratskhelia as an example—but suggested spreading resources across multiple positions made strategic sense. "Bowen won't replicate Salah's numbers, they're just ridiculous," Murphy concluded. "But he's proven in the Premier League year after year."

Liverpool's summer agenda extends well beyond the wing position, with numerous areas requiring attention before the season kicks off.