Newcastle United midfielder Mikel Merino has been a transfer target for a host of Spanish clubs. Real Betis, Athletic Club Bilbao and Real Sociedad are all chasing after the 21-year-old’s signature in the summer transfer window.
We carried a report from Marca on June 12th which explained the Bilbao club will “sit down” with Newcastle to negotiate a deal for Merino. On Thursday, AS suggested that Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay has travelled to English to convince the Tyneside club to sanction their player’s transfer.
Betis have long been after Merino, and their interest has perhaps been reported on move than the other two. Today’s edition of AS claims a “response is awaited” on the transfer.
A failure to sign Merino will see Betis move on to other targets. Anderlecht star Leander Dendoncker has emerged as a target.
He is currently with Belgium at the 2018 World Cup and is also linked with a move to Atletico Madrid and West Ham.
Merino, however, remains Betis’ ‘Plan A’ but the club have to convince both Newcastle United and the Spaniard.
