Mikel Merino is a reported target for La Liga duo Athletic Bilbao and Real Betis, so is his time in the Premier League with Newcastle United done?
It is looking more and more likely that Mikel Merino will not be a Newcastle United player next season.
Big things were expected of the Spanish play-maker when he sealed an £8 million move from Borussia Dortmund after an initial loan spell. But, despite some impressive early performances and even the odd comparison to Xabi Alonso, Merino fell down the pecking order in 2018 thanks to the emergence of Mo Diame and an ill-timed back injury.
With AS stating that Merino would be happy to return to Spain this summer with Real Betis and Athletic Bilbao understood to be very keen, all the signs right now appear to be pointing towards the Newcastle exit.
But Newcastle fans think selling Merino would be a big mistake. After all, there is no guarantee the Magpies could replace him with someone with as much potential and star quality.
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