According to Catalan newspaper Sport, Real Betis are keen on securing the services of Mikel Merino. The Newcastle United midfielder remains a priority target for the Spanish club.
The Magpies manager, Rafael Benitez is said to be open to the idea of allowing the midfielder leave St James’ Park this summer. The report claims the Premier League outfit are demanding at least €11.5m from potential suitors to part ways with their player.
Betis vice president Lorenzo Serra Ferrer has been in contact with Merino’s agent and is trying to “close an agreement”. However, they have found that Athletic Club Bilbao are also interested in he player.
On June 7th, we carried a report from Deia about the Basque club’s interest in the defensive midfielder. Merino wants to give priority to Athletic over Betis and this has forced the latter to look at other alternatives.
Sport claims Betis have identified Espanyol’s David Lopez as an alternative for Merino. Lopez is also a transfer target for Newcastle and Valencia, but Espanyol have no plans to allow him to leave the club in the summer transfer window.
Regardless, it’s claimed Betis would look to Lopez if the Merino efforts failed, but ‘Everything depends on the outcome of negotiations’ with Newcastle. That’s the trigger for whether the Seville club go for the Espanyol player.
