‘Impossible’: Reported £25m Wolves and West Ham target was never going to leave

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Reported West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers target Unai Nunez was never going to leave Athletic Bilbao during the summer transfer window, sporting director Rafa Alkorta has told El Correo.

We can now add this highly rated Spanish international to the lengthy list of central defenders West Ham tried and failed to sign during a frustrating few months at the London Stadium.

AS reported in July that David Moyes was a big admirer of a £25 million rock who has turned down the chance to extend his Athletic contract on three occasions.

Nunez also had admirers at Wolves – even if the Black Country giants couldn’t afford to trigger his sizeable release clause after paying eye-watering sums for Nelson Semedo and Fabio Silva.

AS claims Nuno Espirito Santo is a huge fan of the ball-playing, Basque-born La Roja star.

Nunez caused a stir when he went public with his desire to leave Athletic Bilbao on loan for the 2020/21 season to secure the guaranteed first-team football he needs to force his way into Luis Enrique’s European Championship squad (AS).

But, according to Alkorta, Nunez’s departure was never a realistic possibility.

“He is a starter and we are delighted he has three more years on his contract,” the sporting director says.

“Those words I have already said to him in private. I insist, he is a very important player for us, which makes it impossible for him to leave on loan.”

If the 23-year-old was worried about a lack of regular starts costing him a place in the Spanish set-up, his fears will have eased during the first few weeks of this season.

Nunez hasn’t missed a minute of La Liga football so far.