Everton are reportedly eyeing a transfer swoop for Athletic Bilbao’s Spanish central defender Unai Núñez.
According to AS, as cited by Sport Witness, the Toffees are one of a number of contenders in the Premier League interested in the 23-year-old’s services.
Alongside Carlo Ancelotti’s outfit, there is also reported interest from Arsenal and West Ham United. There is interest from elsewhere, too, with AC Milan and AS Monaco lurking.
As stated in the report, the defender currently has a release clause in his contract which is believed to be €30m (£27m).
Núñez’s current La Liga outfit has tried to tie the centre-back down to a new deal, however, the player has ‘declined to renew’ over a desire for more minutes on the pitch.
The one-time Spain international has three years left on his current contract and a market value of £14.4m, according to Transfermarkt.
TIF Thoughts…
Despite declining a new contract with the club over his desire for more first-team minutes, Núñez has made 22 appearances for the Basque club so far this season (per Transfermarkt).
Over the 16 of those which have come in the league, though, there has seemingly been nothing to suggest that the centre-back would be a good signing.
The Spaniard has been Bilbao’s 11th-best performer, however, he has an uninspiring average rating of just 6.60/10 (per WhoScored).
Would you be pleased if Everton signed Unai Núñez from Athletic Club Bilbao?No, he's not good enough
Yes, he seems a talent
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If the player had earned the same rating for Everton in the Premier League this season, he would only be their 14th-best performer (per WhoScored).
In comparison with Michael Keane’s key defensive statistics, too, Núñez looks even weaker. Everton’s defender has made 1.1 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per league match this term, whereas the Bilbao centre-back has made just 0.6 tackles and 1.3 interceptions.
So, it would seem that perhaps Ancelotti should look elsewhere for a centre-back, especially considering the swoop could set the Toffees back €30m (£27m).