According to Spanish outlet ‘AS’, Mikel Merino has now ‘asked’ to leave Newcastle this summer, claiming that Real Sociedad’s president is now set to arrive on Tyneside for talks after the club demanded €15m for the midfielder (just over £13m).
This Merino saga really is becoming a little tedious now. It’s sounding more and more like he’s going to leave – with him now asking to leave and the club naming the price they’ll sell at.
It seemed just a few weeks ago that he was keen to stay and fight for his place in a bid to become an ‘important player’ in Benitez’s side once again, however it looks like his heart is really set on a move back to Spain.
Mikel Merino has asked #NUFC to let him leave this summer. Sociedad president has flown to England to discuss transfer with the club. United are looking for €15m. [AS] https://t.co/pOziiA6aQb
— NUFC 360 (@NUFC360) June 14, 2018
There’s no smoke without fire and the regularity of his links with a move to a top half La Liga side make it seems quite clear that he’s angling for a move away.
Bilbao and Betis have been strong linked, but AS claim Real Sociedad’s president is already on his way to England to “convince” Newcastle to sanction the deal.
Is £13m a fair price? It’s probably very good value in this day and age, but it’s a quick profit and the sale of a player whose heart clearly isn’t in it anymore.
It’s a shame, but there’s no point keeping a player who doesn’t want to be here.