Marcelino Núñez to Trabzonspor? January rumour analysed
Quick answer: Trabzonspor have put Ipswich Town midfielder Marcelino Núñez back on their January shortlist, according to Turkish and Chilean reports. Status: RUMOUR. Neither club has commented, no bid has been reported, and no fee is on the table. The options mentioned are a loan with an option to buy or a permanent move.
Why the name is back
This is the second time the Black Sea club has looked at the 26-year-old Chilean. Turkish-Football reported on 8 November that Trabzonspor’s scouts followed him in 2025, before Ipswich signed him from Norwich City on 29 August 2025. That fee was reported at €6.65 million; neither club disclosed it. Sözcü and Takvim ran the same story the same day. On 10 November it reached Chile through BioBioChile, Al Aire Libre and Radio La Señal, all citing the Turkish-Football piece.
That chain matters. Several outlets in three languages are repeating one report built on unnamed sources. It is not several independent confirmations, so we keep the file at rumour level.
The reason the story makes sense is minutes. Núñez was a regular in Ipswich’s promotion season (36 Championship games, 3 goals; outlets put his assists at 7 or 9). In the Premier League this season he has 142 minutes across two games, and he has not played in the league since 30 August against Manchester United. His two goals in the League Cup win over Leicester are the highlight of his autumn. Chile also left him out of the squad for the 13 and 17 November friendlies against Colombia. Chilean press noted that he had left the camp early during the North American tour, but no official reason was given for the omission.
Scouting snapshot
- Born: 1 March 2000, Recoleta, Chile (26)
- Height: 1.73 m
- Position: central midfielder, mainly a right-sided No. 8; has also played as a No. 10
- Path: Universidad Católica (two Chilean titles) → Norwich City 2022-25 → Ipswich Town 2025-
- Chile: 34 caps, 5 goals
- Contract: until 30 June 2029
- Reported valuation: €14 million (per Turkish-Football and Sözcü)
Núñez is a connector more than a runner. He likes to receive in the right half-space ahead of the holding midfielder, turn and play forward, and he arrives at the edge of the box for second balls. His strengths are dead balls and shooting from range; he won the Championship Goal of the Month award in February 2023. He has also produced chances consistently across four Championship seasons.
The limits are just as clear. At 1.73 m he does not win many aerial duels or physical battles. He has no real Premier League track record: his whole Norwich spell was in the Championship. He would also arrive in January with almost no match rhythm, so the first few weeks would likely be a fitness ramp.
Where he would fit at Trabzonspor
Midfield has been Trabzonspor’s most consistent transfer theme this autumn. The club has been linked with Philip Billing of Midtjylland, a 1.93 m physical double-pivot player. They have also been linked with Abdoulaye Doumbia of BK Häcken, a 19-year-old development buy reported at around €5 million. On 11 November Fotomaç added Brentford’s Yegor Yarmolyuk, with no source cited. Núñez is the most creative and technical profile on that list.
The clearest link is Ruslan Malinovskyi. The club officially confirmed in late September that the Ukrainian had knee surgery, with a reported six-week recovery. Núñez covers a similar role: progressive passing, set pieces and long shots. In a 4-2-3-1 under Thomas Reis, he would make most sense as the right-sided eight. That role needs a proper holding midfielder next to him, because Núñez is not built to protect a back four alone.
The money
Ipswich hold the leverage. The contract runs for another two and a half years, and nothing forces a sale. The player’s situation is what pushes towards a deal: he is out of the rotation and out of the national team. That makes a loan with an option to buy the most realistic structure. A permanent fee anywhere near the €14 million valuation would be a stretch for Trabzonspor after their summer spending. No bid, loan fee or option price has been reported.
Comparable files
Núñez fits a pattern of Trabzonspor looking for Premier League players who are short of minutes. Our Richarlison analysis covers the same logic at the other end of the pitch. On profile, the closest comparison is Malinovskyi. On price, Doumbia is the cheaper and longer-term option. Núñez would be the ready-made one.
GegenSports verdict
The fit makes sense on paper, but the reporting is thin. Trabzonspor would get a technical No. 8 who can cover for Malinovskyi. The reporting, though, is one source-based story with no bid and no talks described. For the file to move beyond rumour, we would need to see an official step from Trabzonspor or a concrete negotiation report from England.
FAQ
Has Marcelino Núñez joined Trabzonspor?
No. As of 11 November 2026 there is no agreement and no reported bid.
What position does Núñez play?
Central midfield, mainly as a No. 8, occasionally as a No. 10.
When does his Ipswich contract expire?
30 June 2029.
How much would he cost?
No fee has been reported. His reported valuation is €14 million, and a loan with an option to buy is the structure mentioned most often.
Sources
- Turkish-Football, 8 November 2026
- Sözcü and Takvim, 8 November 2026
- Haber61, 10 November 2026
- BioBioChile, Al Aire Libre, Radio La Señal, 10 November 2026
- Fotomaç (Yarmolyuk report), 11 November 2026
- BeSoccer; Wikipedia career statistics
- Trabzonspor official statement on Malinovskyi’s surgery, September 2026
Image: GegenSports illustrative tactical diagram, not match data.
