Oihan Sancet has brought an end to speculation linking him with Premier League giants Liverpool with a remarkable nine-year contract extension at Athletic Bilbao.
Remarkably, this is not even the longest contract signed by a La Liga midfielder in recent times. Osasuna’s Jon Moncayola inked a decade-long deal during the summer of 2021. Thus, warding off any interest from the likes of West Ham.
Sancet, meanwhile, took visible pleasure in announcing to the San Mames crowd following this weekend’s 0-0 draw with Getafe that he would be sticking around until the summer of 2032, almost moved to tears by the jubilant reaction.
Oihan Sancet won’t be joining Liverpool this summer
“I’m happy,” smiles an emotional Sanchet (Cadena Ser). “This is my home, where I want to be. Athletic is a big draw for players from the Basque Country and I want to be here. There is no better club to progress as a footballer and as a person.
“The club made a strong commitment to me when I was a youth player. And they are doing so again now with a very ambitious project. I want to repay all the trust placed in me.”
After reports emerged suggesting that star centre-half Inigo Martinez had agreed to join Barcelona, and amid claims that Nico Williams is a summer target for Aston Villa, confirmation of Sancet’s commitment to the Athletic Club cause was understandably very well received.
The Basque-born academy graduate has scored eight goals from central midfield this season; a hat-trick in February’s 4-1 thumping of Cadiz his ‘coming of age’ moment. With Liverpool in the market for young, energetic, technically-skilled central midfielders, Sancet had reportedly played his way onto Jurgen Klopp’s radar, even if Fabrizio Romano played down such speculation (Caught Offside).
Remarkably, by the time Sancet’s new Athletic deal expires 10 years from now, Klopp will be eligible for a free bus pass.
“(Keeping Sancet is one of our) strategic pillars,” explains president Jon Uriarte. “Having the best possible players in the club, adjusted to our possibilities.
“(Sancet’s) is a very good example of the talent we have in the rest of the academy.”
Will Liverpool sign Chelsea’s Mason Mount?
With Enzo Fernandez now at Chelsea, and with both Jude Bellingham and Moises Caicedo likely too expensive, Liverpool could reportedly turn to Mason Mount and Bayern Munich misfit Ryan Gravenberch.
“I think (Mount) is a super talent. A really good character,” former Anfield favourite Danny Murphy tells talkSPORT. “I’m on board with him. I love everything about him.”
“I would be desperately trying to get him at my club if I was Liverpool.
“They will all be in for him. They will all try and get him. Newcastle, Liverpool, (Manchester) United will go in for him. It wouldn’t surprise me if Arsenal were in for him. Why wouldn’t you want him?”
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