Unai Núñez: Could Manchester City be scouting the next Laporte?
Although Pep Guardiola has previously categorically ruled out any January signings, Manchester City could go for another Athletic Bilbao defender: 22-year old Unai Núñez.
He may be a relative unknown to many Manchester City supporters, but young central defender Unai Núñez has been a rock at the back for Athletic Bilbao so far this season.
With a reported £25 million release clause, the move could be an absolute bargain for City should they look to solve their defensive issues through the market this winter. The last time City went for a defender from the Basque club, it was an incredible success as Aymeric Laporte was brought to Manchester.
It may not be the big-name solution many City fans were hoping for amid links to players such as Kalidou Koulibaly, but this move is much more like one City would make. Time and time again the board have refused to splash the cash on established, big-name veterans, instead preferring to pay for potential and young talent and mold them into stars at the club.
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With Laporte returning later this month, another January move for a defender from his former club could be a nice partnership as City look to achieve European glory in the spring. In fact, City’s first Champions League opponent will be familiar La Liga opposition in Real Madrid.
Núñez has thoroughly impressed this season, although his inexperience does raise some concerns when comparing his trajectory to Laporte’s. The French defender had already established himself as a household name during his time in the Basque Country and was one of the world’s most highly-rated defenders, while Núñez is seen as someone with potential but untested at the top level.
He may not walk directly into the first team as Laporte did, but instead need time to settle in. In such a crucial Champions League run, City will need someone to step up next to their anchor at the back and make a real impact this season, which Núñez may or may not be capable of. Having appeared in 65 of Bilbao’s 76 La Liga matches over the course of the last two seasons, he does bring some experience, but the pressure cooker of elite European football is a different beast altogether.