One place that Athletic Membership will nearly actually be trying to handle in the course of the summer season switch window is right-back. Earlier this month, membership legend Oscar de Marcos introduced that he could be retiring on the finish of the season, and as such, a alternative will likely be wanted to finish alongside Andoni Gorosabel and Inigo Lekue.
The membership’s well-documented switch coverage of solely brining in Basque gamers does make their choices extra scarce, nevertheless it doesn’t restrict the standard that they’ll usher in. And for right-back, one of many clear targets is Osasuna’s Jesus Areso.
Areso is somebody that Athletic officers are already very accustomed to. The 25-year-old had come by the membership’s youth academy earlier than he joined Osasuna in the summertime of 2020 on a free switch. 5 years on, he may very well be on his method again to San Mames, though he would price considerably extra.
Osasuna are conscious of Athletic’s curiosity in Areso, and they aren’t ready to half methods with one in every of their finest defenders. Even if his contract will solely have 12 months remaining by the point the summer season switch window opens, Los Rojillos have said that they won’t negotiate, as per Marca.
In consequence, Athletic would solely be capable of signal Areso in the event that they paid his launch clause, which stands at €12m. Whereas this may very well be thought of steep, they spend greater than that final summer season to herald Alvaro Djalo from Braga, and on condition that Ernesto Valverde’s facet ought to safe a Champions League place for subsequent season, there will likely be additional funds at their disposal.
Areso could be an excellent addition for Athletic, and given that he’s solely 25 years of age, he can maintain down that right-back place for a few years to return if he’s signed by Los Leones in the summertime.