Barcelona have reportedly taken "important steps" forward in their attempts to sign Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao during this summer's transfer window.

Williams is Barcelona's leading target this summer, and the Catalan giants are said to be firmly at the head of the queue for his signature despite interest from the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal.

According to journalist Rudy Galetti, Hansi Flick's team are making strong progress, and their efforts to secure a deal will be intensified once Euro 2024 has concluded.

On X, Galetti said that Barcelona are "taking important steps", with Williams determined to secure a switch to Camp Nou during this summer's transfer window.

There will allegedly be a five-year contract placed on the table for the Spain international, with a salary of potentially €10m (£8.6m) per season.

Barcelona are seemingly leading the race for Williams

Williams has been in excellent form for Spain at Euro 2024, contributing one goal and one assist in five appearances to help his national side reach the final of the competition.

The 22-year-old has a contract with Athletic until June 2027, but the presence of a release clause in his deal means that his Basque club are in a tough position when it comes to keeping hold of him.

Williams' buy-out fee is believed to be around €58m (£49.8m), and La Liga president Javier Tebas recently said that Barcelona are close to bring able to afford to sign the attacker despite their financial issues.

"If Barca return to a 1:1 spending limit [permitted to invest anything they raise in transfers or savings on wages], meaning they aren't in excess of their cap, they will be able to do so," Tebas told Diario Sport.

"You have to think that with Barcelona's efforts to reduce their wage bill by more than €200m (£172m) and other measures that have already taken place within the club that have nothing to do with their financial levers [selling assets], it is perfectly possible to bring in a player like Nico Williams.

Tebas talks-up Barcelona move for Williams

"I think he has a clause of €58m (£49.8m). When you sign a player for €58m (£49.8m), the amortisation is divided by the years of the contract; if you sign him for three years, it would be less than €20m (£17.2m) per year, plus whatever you pay the player.

"Barca are going to be able to be around those amounts, which are perfectly acceptable if they are back within the 1:1 rule. They are a club that is close to €1bn (£860m) in turnover, they can be in that range for that type of signing.

"We have to remember that the 1:1 scenario has to be fulfilled first, though. They are not there yet, but it's the closest they have been. If they get there, they can sign Nico Williams or another player with those characteristics."

Athletic president Jon Uriarte recently said that he was confident of keeping hold of Williams this summer, but the situation could soon be taken out of his hands.

The forward scored eight goals and registered 19 assists in 37 appearances for Athletic last term, while he has 20 goals and 26 assists in 122 outings for the club.