Athletic Club is looking for a full-back with goals in England

Athletic Club is closely monitoring potential emerging stars with Basque heritage, and is doing so with Norwich City star Borja Sainz. The former Alavés player has found his scoring touch in the Championship.

Sainz spent time at Athletic’s Lezama academy as a youngster before moving to Alavés, and was loaned to Real Zaragoza, before moving to Turkey to play for Giresunspor in 2022 and moving to Norwich in 2023. Now in his second season In England, Sainz has 16 goals and 2 assists in his 26 appearances this season, coming in from the wing.

He has a contract with Norwich until 2026, but Sport say Athletic are watching him and would be their preferred option if Nico Williams were to leave. Depending on how talks with Norwich go, he could be available at a reduced price next summer.

Athletic have Williams under contract until 2027, but signed Alvaro Djalo for €15m from Braga last summer, with many at the time wondering whether he would be Williams’ long-term replacement. Along with his brother Iñaki Williams, Djalo is competing with Alex Berenguer for a place in the wing, but with his European duties, Ernesto Valverde would certainly welcome reinforcements, especially if Nico Williams leaves.