Unai Nunez has ‘declined offers’ to extend his contract at Athletic Bilbao amid links with Everton, Arsenal and West Ham United, sporting director Rafa Alkorta has told Naiz.
Whether you think that Athletic’s Basque-based transfer policy is admirable or outdated, one thing is for sure – it is not easy for one of Spain’s oldest clubs to replace a star player.
So no wonder they are determined to tie down Nunez with his current deal due to expire in 2022.
According to AS, a 23-year-old centre-half born on the banks of the Biscay has rejected three separate contract offers from the San Mames club, with three Premier League teams expressing an interest in triggering his £25 million release clause.
Athletic know that it will be very difficult to find a successor for the Spain international, given that they can only sign players from inside of the Basque borders.
So perhaps that is why sporting director Alkorta appears to be on the charm offensive when discussing Nunez’s future.
“(Nunez has) declined offers (to sign a new contract),” Alkorta admits. “(But) he has two years of contract.
“We are delighted, he is a great player, who has given us a lot. He’s played a lot this season, about 2,000 minutes, which was what he wanted – and he’s been great every time he’s played.
“We have to be happy.”
Alkorta adds that Nunez’s performances in 2019/20 have been of an ‘extraordinary level’.
And while he was not always a regular in Gaizka Garitano’s XI, starting just 16 matches, Nunez appears to be a man tailor-made for the biggest of occasions.
There were two Man of the Match performances against Barcelona, including an exceptional display during the 1-0 opening day triumph in August. That backheeled goal-line clearance versus Real Madrid, meanwhile, has to be seen to be believed.
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