Report: Arsenal contact club over £25m ‘wall that opponents just can’t get around’

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Arsenal have reportedly made contact with Athletic Bilbao over a prospective move for Unai Nunez, according to AS.

The 23-year-old centre-back has come through the ranks at the Lezama academy and has made 69 appearances for Athletic, including 18 in all competitions this season.

Although Nunez has been in and out of the first team this season, his impressive displays when called upon haven’t gone unnoticed.

According to AS, the Gunners were prioritising a move for Reims defender Axel Disasi this summer and are still believed to be “leaning” more towards him as a target.

However, the same outlet now suggests they’re still keeping tabs on Nunez, claiming they’re one of several clubs to have been in touch with Athletic to register their interest.

Basque outlet Deia previously reported that the Gunners had been tracking Nunez for a while, and manager Mikel Arteta has identified the 6ft 1in ace as a top summer option.

The outlet also claimed that Nunez’s release clause in his contract – which expires in the summer of 2023 – is €30million (around £25million).

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One of the key areas Arteta is likely to strengthen for Arsenal in the summer is the defence, which has been far from watertight on far too many occasions.

Nunez seems to tick all the boxes as a prospective Gunners signing, with Inside Athletic giving a good insight into the player’s credentials in a 2018 article comparing him to teammate Yeray Alvarez.

“Nunez is a traditional center-back who is tall, strong, and good in the air,” the article reads.

“He is rarely beaten on crosses and can be a wall that opponents just can’t get around. The (then) 21-year-old has shown the ability to make great tackles and does so with confidence.”

Given his credentials, further potential, age, fairly reasonable price tag and reported desire to change clubs, he sounds like he could be an impressive prospect for Arsenal.