Inigo Martinez’s contract renewal at Real Sociedad is ‘complicated’ and negotiations have ground to a halt, potentially alerting Athletic Bilbao.
AS reports the defender has been in talks over a four-year extension to his contract, which ends in 2017.
Inigo’s wages are the issue as La Real want to raise his release clause but the parties can’t agree on terms, and the club had wanted to announce a deal before the end of the season.
The player has aired his concerns over the contract in an interview with the Basque edition of Mundo Deportivo, saying that he ‘has doubts.’
“When I see the club has done all they really can, I will sign,” he added.
La Real are understood to be confident a deal will be reached and feel they are making a major effort to keep Inigo at Anoeta.
He’s valued as a priority and wants to be paid as such, with the club pushing for an escape clause of €40m.
Athletic have been linked with an attempt to exploit the stand-off by going for Inigo, mooted as a replacement should Aymeric Laporte leave San Mames.
Los Leones could try to convince Inigo to delay his contract extension and then quit La Real for the other side of the Basque divide on a free transfer next summer.
