The Spanish international winger informed Athletic Bilbao four days ago, via his agent, of his desire to don the famous blaugrana shirt, according to sources close to the player.

Meanwhile, Barcelona have been crunching the numbers for a week to meet Williams' 58 million euros release clause, plus inflation adjustments, as Athletic Bilbao refuse to negotiate. The Catalan giants, led by president Joan Laporta, aim to finalise the deal next week.

However, Williams is seeking assurances. The 23-year-old wants guarantees that Barcelona can register him with La Liga, as paying the clause is one thing, but securing La Liga's approval for his registration is another.

The memory of Dani Olmo's registration saga last season looms large for fans and players alike. Williams, who is set to sign a contract until 2031, is determined to avoid a similar ordeal but remains eager to join Barcelona as soon as possible.

Last season, Dani Olmo and Pau Victor endured registration nightmares. Olmo, a Spanish international, faced delays at the start of La Liga because La Liga withheld approval for his registration. Andreas Christensen's injury in August proved pivotal, allowing Olmo's temporary registration until 31 December.

However, January brought further complications. After days without a valid registration and intervention from Spain's National Sports Council (CSD), Olmo was finally re-registered. Williams is adamant about steering clear of such uncertainty, despite his clear desire to join Barcelona.

Athletic Bilbao have been informed of Williams' intentions, but the player is cautious about financial fair play (FFP) regulations potentially derailing his playing time next season.

Speaking at a charity golf tournament organised by Ronald Koeman, Joan Laporta expressed confidence in Barcelona's compliance with La Liga's FFP rules. "We are meeting all the requirements set by LaLiga and financial fair play to sign players this summer," Laporta said, hinting at their ability to cover a significant release clause without naming Williams directly.

However, La Liga president Javier Tebas cautioned that Barcelona are not yet in the 1:1 spending rule, which could complicate their transfer plans.

The coming week will be crucial as Barcelona push to secure one of Spain's brightest talents while navigating the complexities of La Liga's financial regulations. Fans will be watching closely to see if the blaugrana can deliver on their ambitions.

Andile Jali says he has signed for unnamed DStv Premiership side