---
title: "West Ham linked with Nunez as contract talks stall"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2020/02/06/west-ham-linked-with-nunez-as-contract-talks-stall/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Alex Murray"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2020-02-06T12:00:00Z"
modified: "2020-02-06T12:00:00Z"
---

# West Ham linked with Nunez as contract talks stall

West Ham are still being linked with Athletic Bilbao defender Unai Nunez, with talks continuing over a potential new deal for the player at his current club, as per [La Razon](https://www.larazon.es/laotraliga/20200204/snwjdsohsrgkxmj266joeyjfc4.html).

The Hammers were [previously linked](https://readwestham.com/2020/01/31/nunez-doesnt-want-to-leave-bilbao-despite-west-ham-interest/) with a swoop for the defender, but reports suggested that he did not want to leave Bilbao for East London.

Nunez has a €30 million release clause in his contract, which runs until the[summer of 2023](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/unai-nunez/profil/spieler/338285).

The defender’s talks over a new deal have seemingly stalled, as per [La Razon](https://www.larazon.es/laotraliga/20200204/snwjdsohsrgkxmj266joeyjfc4.html), and rumours have already started over a potential exit, with West Ham and Bayern Munich being linked.

[It’s claimed that](https://www.larazon.es/laotraliga/20200204/snwjdsohsrgkxmj266joeyjfc4.html) Athletic want to tie him to a new deal with a bigger release clause, but the player wants more minutes in the first-team which is seeminly fueling the rumours of a potential exit.

### Read West Ham’s verdict

The player clearly wants more game time, and if he doesn’t get it promised in his deal, then he may be tempted to try and push for a move to join one of the [two teams linked with him previously, Bayern and West Ham](https://www.larazon.es/laotraliga/20200204/snwjdsohsrgkxmj266joeyjfc4.html).

He could be a good signing for the Hammers, with Nunez described as a good blocker and interceptor by [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/344200/Show/Unai-N%C3%BA%C3%B1ez). The Spaniard has intercepted around 1.1 balls a game this campaign and has averaged around one block a game during the limited minutes he has had on the pitch, as per [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/344200/Show/Unai-N%C3%BA%C3%B1ez).

However, in our opinion, this might be an unlikely deal for the Hammers to conclude. The La Liga side may be reluctant to sell, given [how their recruitment policy works.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletic_Bilbao_signing_policy) Athletic only sign players from the Basque region of the country, thus limiting the pool of players they have readily available to them. This transfer policy puts extra onus on the club to keep some of their best players.