According to reports in Spain, new Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has urged the club to make a January move for former Newcastle midfielder Mikel Merino.
This comes from Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, who also reveal that the 26-year-old has a £55m release clause in his current contract at Real Sociedad.
The Spaniard has shown some incredible form in La Liga. In 14 league appearances so far this season, he’s scored once and assisted six (the most in the division) as the side look to push for a Champions League spot.
Merino spent a season on loan at the Magpies back in the 2017-18 campaign, impressing so much that he signed permanently on a five-year contract in the same year.
However, the then 21-year-old made just 24 league appearances before he was ultimately sold to Real Sociedad, where he has gone from strength to strength and made it into the Spain squad – earning 11 caps in total.
With a £55m release clause in his contract, Merino is unlikely to leave for anything lower than that fee – meaning it could take big bucks for Villa to bring the Spanish international to the Midlands in the new year, despite their owners wealth.
