LaLiga president Javier Tebas has said that Barcelona are close to being able to afford the signing of Athletic Club winger Nico Williams.

Williams, 22, has a 58 million ($63.2m) release clause in his contract and Barça president Joan Laporta said last week the Catalan club could afford to sign the Spain international.

Barça remain in excess of their LaLiga-imposed annual spending limit, preventing them from registering new signings, but Tebas said their financial situation is improving.

"If Barça 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 when asked if a deal for Williams would be possible financially.

"You have to think that with Barcelona's efforts to reduce their wage bill by more than 200m ($218m) 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.

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

"Barça are going to be able to be around those amounts, which are perfectly acceptable if they are back within the 1:1 rule.