Football
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Inaki Williams happy at Athletic Bilbao despite Liverpool transfer talk

Spain forward Inaki Williams has no intention of leaving Athletic Bilbao, despite reported interest from Liverpool.

According to the Spanish media, Williams, 22, is a target of the Premier League side with Reds coach Jurgen Klopp said to be an admirer of the Bilbao-born player.

However, Williams, who broke into Athletic's first team in 2014 and earned his first cap with Spain in May, has ruled out a move to Anfield.

"I'm happy at Athletic, it's where I want to be," Williams said to AS newspaper. "I'm very grateful to the fans, to the club and to my teammates. I want to continue here for many years."

A youth product of Athletic, Williams scored 10 goals in his debut season in 2014-15, while in 32 starts for Athletic in all competitions last campaign he netted 15 goals and set up five more.

The highly rated forward extended his contract with Athletic in early 2016 by four years until June 2021, while the club increased his release clause from €20 million to €50m.

"I want to be Athletic's future No. 9," Williams said, "the player who raises the roof at San Mames every week and scores lot of goals.

"I've always considered myself a forward, I feel comfortable playing in that position and being close to the goal."

Williams scored his first goal of the season in a 3-2 home victory over Real Sociedad on Oct. 16.

"There are times when you work and work and the goals don't arrive," he said. "But I'm certain this is the first of many."

Williams made his eighth La Liga start and played the full 90 minutes in Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Real Madrid.

Athletic, coached by Ernesto Valverde, are sixth in Spain's top flight, and the are also competing in the Europa League this season.

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