Arsenal make Athletic Bilbao's Unai Nunez a top transfer target (Mail)

Mikel Arteta has made Athletic Bilbao's Unai Nunez his top transfer target as he looks to overhaul Arsenal's defence for next season.

The 23-year-old has a release clause of £26.45million and, according to La Razon via Deia, the Gunners are prepared to meet it.

However, it's a price several clubs are thought to be willing to match with the release clause seen as relatively low for the current transfer market.

Nunez has made 18 appearances in all competitions for Bilbao but it took him until the second half of the season to nail down a regular starting place.

But the centre-back is seen as a developing talent who is physically strong and good in the air.

He made his international debut for Spain last September, replacing Sergio Ramos in a Euro qualifying fixture against the Faroe Islands.

The majority of Nunez's starts for Bilbao have come as part of a back-three which also makes him a flexible option.

Arteta sees improving his defensive options as a priority for next season with the Gunners having one of the worst records of the top ten teams.

Only Newcastle's Martin Dubravka has faced more shorts on goal than Arsenal's Bernd Leno.

Nunez would also bring some youth to an ageing defence with David Luiz and Sokratis Papastathopoulos both over 30.

But Arteta could face competition from Manchester City, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich and West Ham who have all shown an interest in the defender.

Nunez has a contract with Bilbao until 2023 but the club want him to sign a new deal which would alter his current release clause.

However, after recently changing agents his future increasingly looks like it will be elsewhere.