Athletic tracking Iván Martín after failed summer loan move | OneFootball

Athletic maintain interest in Girona midfielder Iván Martín, 27, after a failed attempt to bring him in on loan last summer, with talks held with club and player but no agreement. According to El Correo, he remains on their shortlist.

The club believe midfield needs reinforcement and view Martín as a strong fit. There have been no fresh contacts, yet indications are they intend to try again.

A creative midfielder with La Liga experience, he offers ball retention and incisive passing, and is seen as stylistically close to Ruiz de Galarreta as a potential successor. Peio Canales and Beñat Gerenabarrena will return to Lezama, though coaches view the former as a playmaker and the latter as a more defensive option.

Martín is versatile, having played as an attacking and central midfielder. He has goals in him even if he has found the net less in the past two seasons. In 2023-24 he scored five.

Athletic have monitored him since his Villarreal academy days, and in 2022 they sounded out Villarreal while the club still owned him, but Girona, where he had been on loan, completed the signing.

He is under contract at Girona until 2028 with a 20 million euro release clause. Villarreal gave up a six million buy-back but kept 30% of any future sale.

Athletic are aware Girona would negotiate below the clause, with six million euros a possible reference point, in line with Transfertmark’s valuation. A deal could even be struck for less.

Source: El Correo