By Gabriel Agbonlahor

20th Sep, 2023 | 1:48pm

Agbonlahor tells Aston Villa to beat Liverpool to Nico Williams deal - 'he's the one'

Gabby Agbonlahor has urged Aston Villa to beat Liverpool to a deal for “exciting” Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams.

The former Aston Villa striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted signing the 21-year-old would be the perfect addition to the club’s squad depth in attack.

According to Spanish outlet AS (16 September), Aston Villa, Liverpool and Barcelona are “on the prowl” for Williams.

The Spain international is out of contract at the end of the 2023-24 campaign, but the report claims Athletic Bilbao are keen to renew his deal.

Williams has already notched four assists in four La Liga games for Bilbao so far this season.

He has turned out 89 times for his boyhood club, scoring 12 goals and contributing 11 assists.

The youngster, who made his Spain debut in September 2022 and played at the World Cup later that year, can play on both flanks.

Agbonlahor told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “He’s the sort of player that is exciting.

“He’s quick, can play off the left, down the middle – and the manager knows him well.

“He is the one we’re all looking at for the January window. Bring him in and then you’ve got Duran, Watkins – and other players like Bailey, Ramsey and even Buendia who is coming back from injury.

“It just adds competition for places.

“That way, if you’re not bang at it as an attacking player – you’re getting dropped. That’s why Aston Villa are in a strong position at the moment.”

In other news, Aston Villa recieve “mega-money” transfer payment.