Athletic Club are reportedly ready to ease the path for Bayern Munich in their pursuit of Nico Williams - but are unwilling to offer the same flexibility to long-time domestic rivals Barcelona.

Sources close to the Basque outfit suggest that Athletic would prefer to see their homegrown star move abroad rather than strengthen a direct La Liga competitor. As such, the club is prepared to offer more accommodating payment terms to Bayern regarding the structure of the buyout clause.

In sharp contrast, Athletic are demanding the full release clause paid upfront from Barcelona - with zero room for negotiation. It’s a stance that effectively sidelines the Catalan club from the race, given their ongoing financial struggles and inability to raise the necessary funds in a lump sum.

The news comes just days after Bayern Munich reportedly submitted a renewed personal proposal to Nico Williams. According to sources, this is believed to be the Bavarian club’s final offer — if rejected, they are expected to shift their focus to alternative targets.