Athletic Bilbao will again make a move for Real Madrid midfielder and Arsenal target Asier Illarramendi this summer.
Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao were close to agreeing a €25m deal for the midfielder before the player personally blocked the transfer earlier this week.
The 24-year-old is keen to stay at the club until the end of the season and is ready to fight for a place in Carlo Ancelotti’s side for the second half of their campaign.
Though not a regular, the club and Ancelotti opted not to sour their relationship with the player by forcing him to leave them and have informed Athletic Bilbao that they are unable to accept the offer on the table.
The Basque club made a final effort to make the deal happen after Athletic Bilbao president Josu Urrutia personally called Illarramendi and tried to convince him to join the club.
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However, the player’s answer didn’t change and according to Marca, Urrutia told the midfielder that he will launch a renewed bid to make him an Athletic Bilbao player again in the summer.
Illarramendi is keener on making the switch at the end of the season and is believed to have told Urrutia that he will listen to their offer in the next transfer window.
However, Athletic Bilbao will face stiff competition from Arsenal, who are closely following developments at the Bernabeu and are keen on making a move for the Basque midfielder at the end of the campaign.
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