Newcastle United midfielder Mikel Merino was linked with a move to Athletic Bilbao, but a report has now suggested that Rafa Benitez wants to keep him.
Newcastle fans may have been left extremely concerned this week when Spanish outlet AS reported that Athletic Bilbao were targeting Mikel Merino and the Magpies were open to considering a potential sale.
Merino arrived on loan during the summer and quickly earned himself a permanent move, with the Chronicle reporting that the Magpies ultimately spent £8.2 million on the 21-year-old.
That fee looked like a huge bargain during the early months of the season. However, he has played a much more peripheral role lately, having played a full 90 minutes just once since mid-December – and that may have made the AS report quite troubling for Newcastle supporters who have become used to seeing some head-scratching decisions in the transfer market in recent years.
Should fans relax over Merino’s future?
It appears inevitable that, at some stage, Newcastle will have to field some seriously tempting offers for Merino given the potential that he is currently showing. But perhaps it would be fair to suggest that the supporters can be optimistic that the Spaniard will begin next season at St James’ Park.
He has been overshadowed by some of Newcastle’s other midfielders lately, and while that may leave him in a slightly frustrating position right now, it should ensure that he goes a little more under the radar for the moment.
But with the Chronicle reporting that Benitez is delighted with his development, it still appears just a matter of time before the former Borussia Dortmund ace is one of the first names on the teamsheet.
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