Athletic Club Plans Izeta’s Departure in Winter Transfer Window

Athletic Club has decided to facilitate the departure of striker Izeta, 26, during the upcoming winter transfer window. The forward has seen limited playing time and the club has received several offers for the Guipuzcoan player, who is under contract until 2027. Although he has not disappointed in his few appearances with the first team, coach Valverde believes there are other players ahead of him in the pecking order: Guruzeta, Iñaki Williams, and Berenguer form a trio that will soon expand to a quartet with the anticipated return of Maroan, who is in the final stages of recovery from knee surgery due to a meniscal injury.

The winter transfer market opens on Friday, January 2, and runs until Monday, February 2. Athletic Club is not in a hurry to finalize a deal, which they believe will proceed smoothly. However, the club has set conditions; an immediate transfer will only occur if one of the interested parties agrees to a transfer fee, initially valued at around two million euros. This scenario would also require the player to negotiate a new contract with the receiving club. Should these conditions be met, Izeta could depart at any moment.

Despite this, no prospective clubs have approached Ibaigane under these terms yet, although it remains a consideration. The most frequently discussed option among the half dozen Segunda División teams monitoring the player’s future has been a loan. Additionally, the striker is being considered by Oviedo and Alavés, both of whom are looking for an attacker without significant financial outlay. Like the first two, the teams from Liga Hypermotion are currently not inclined towards a transfer.

As long as no agreement for a purchase is reached, Athletic Club reserves the right to prolong the departure process until the final stretch of the winter transfer window, prioritizing a loan with an option to buy over a loan without future continuity. The player is weighing the options that have emerged, preparing to communicate his preferences to Athletic. While Valverde is willing to open the door for Izeta’s exit, he will not hinder the striker should he choose to remain with the first team if he does not find satisfactory security in the offers received.