Athletic to prioritise midfield signings under Edin Terzic | OneFootball

Athletic will prioritise midfield signings next season, with new coach Edin Terzic shaping plans within the club’s constraints.

According to El Correo, Terzic has spent months studying footage to gauge the squad, while tracking loanees Peio Canales, Manex Lozano at newly promoted Racing, and Beñat Gerenabarrena at Castellón.

He inherits more than 30 players at Lezama, but this season exposed the midfield. Beñat Prados missed the campaign with a knee injury, Mikel Vesga, 33, logged only 816 minutes, and Alejandro Rego is still short of elite experience.

The strain left Mikel Jauregizar spent by the run in. Athletic also need cover for Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta, 34 in August, who increasingly manages his minutes and lacks a natural understudy.

Targets include Espanyol’s Urko González de Zárate, Girona’s Iván Martín and Rayo’s Unai López, with previous interest in Real Madrid’s César Palacios now frozen. Espanyol paid 5 million euros for 80% of Urko’s rights last summer, and Real Sociedad retain control, complicating any move.

Martín, 27, was pursued last summer and remains on the radar. Under contract to 2028 with a 20 million clause, and with Villarreal holding 30% of any sale, his exit appears certain if Girona are relegated on the final day against Elche, with San Mamés a possible destination below that figure.

López, 30, is out of contract on 30 June and the club have asked to be kept informed of offers. Canales, after five goals and eight assists at Racing, may now offer cover for Sancet.

Source: El Correo