The 3 options of Athletic Club to replace Guruzeta

The transfer market of the Athletic Club must decide how to cover the absence of Gorka Guruzeta, who will be out for the rest of the season due to a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Edin Terzić loses his main center forward and will have to choose between giving more prominence to Maroan Sannadi, repositioning Iñaki Williams, or asking the sports management to explore the winter market.

The injury occurred on October 17, during the goalless draw against Valencia at Mestalla. Guruzeta had just entered the field when the incident happened. Medical tests confirmed the extent of the injury, and the club anticipates that he will undergo surgery.

Athletic Club: Sannadi gets the first opportunity

The most immediate solution lies within the squad. Maroan Sannadi, a 25-year-old forward, offers a physical reference profile and can take on more minutes after Guruzeta's absence. However, his participation in the league at the beginning of this season has been limited: he had played 91 minutes in five matches, with no goals or assists, according to available statistical records.

The situation presents an opportunity for him, but also raises a question: Athletic needs immediate offensive output, and Sannadi still needs to prove that he can sustain that role consistently. Terzić will need to evaluate his progress in upcoming matches before the market opens for alternative acquisitions.

The second option is Iñaki Williams. Although he usually starts from wide positions, the captain has already played as a central reference and can provide speed into space and mobility. The downside is that moving him to the attack's center reduces options on the flanks, especially while the team manages other absences.

The forward who could fit in the winter market

Finding a striker in January won't be easy. Athletic's sports policy restricts the pool of candidates to footballers linked to the Basque football environment, by birth or training, and also requires negotiating with clubs that are not obligated to sell mid-season.

An illustrative name of this difficulty is Asier Villalibre, a 29-year-old forward developed at Lezama. However, it wouldn't be a straightforward operation: the attacker signed permanently with Racing de Santander in July 2026, so Athletic would need to negotiate with his current club and assess the cost of a departure just a few months after his arrival. There is no evidence of ongoing talks for the player.

Therefore, Villalibre should be seen as a theoretical possibility due to his history and connection to Athletic, not as a confirmed target. The sports management could also consider other forwards who meet the eligibility criteria, but as of now, no specific candidate with confirmed negotiations has been disclosed.

Terzić must decide whether to wait until January

The German coach has weeks to try out alternatives before the winter market opens. The initial decision will be to distribute Guruzeta's minutes between Sannadi and Williams without weakening other positions while assessing if the squad can maintain its offensive capability with the current resources.

If the response doesn't translate into goals and chances, Athletic Club will need to consider an addition in January. The priority will be to find a forward available, financially feasible, and compatible with the Rojiblanco's transfer policy; until a name backed by reliable information emerges, it cannot be assumed that the club will close a deal.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Las 3 opciones del Athletic Club para reemplazar a Guruzeta