With Arsenal closing in on a £30 million deal, Mikel Merino was conspicuous by his absence during Real Sociedad’s shock 2-1 home defeat to Rayo Vallecano over the weekend.
HITC understands that Merino was left at home as he awaits permission to undergo medical tests in North London.
A four-year contract has been agreed at the Emirates Stadium, with the former Newcastle United prospect ready to return to England.
“Real Sociedad will not be able to replace those players with the same level,” head coach Imanol Alguacil told Noticias de Gipuzkoa after Merino was nowhere to be seen during the La Liga opener.
“Arsenal wants Merino.”
Fortunately for Valencia, they are not yet in the same position as Real Sociedad. While talks have taken place between Liverpool and Los Che, the £30 million-rated goakeelper Giorgi Mamardashvili was – in contrast to Mikel Merino – included in Valencia’s XI.
Mamardashvili started between the sticks as Barcelona triumphed 2-1 at the Mestalla thanks to a Robert Lewandowski brace.
And, serenaded from the stands by a fanbase desperate to see Mamardashvili do like Martin Zubimendi and rebuff Liverpool’s advances, Valencia director Miguel Angel Corona made it clear at full-time that – while this may not be the case come September – the talented shot-stopper remains at the club’s disposal for the time being.
His exit is not quite imminent despite progress being made in those discussions.
Liverpool in talks with Valencia ace Giorgi Mamardashvili
“It’s fantastic how they want him (to stay),” Corona says in response to those chants, via Super Deporte. “The market says he’s a great player. If he’s playing, it’s because there’s nothing else (in terms of an imminent transfer).
“There’s strong interest in him in the market. He’s with us, for now.”
Those final two words – ‘for now’ – may not give the Valencia fans too much hope. Especially with HITC reporting on Friday that Liverpool have agreed a £30 million deal in principle.
Mamardashvili is not expected to join Liverpool until the summer of 2025 – they see him as a long-term replacement for 31-year-old Alisson Becker – with the ‘outstanding’ Georgia international potentially set to spend the remainder of the current campaign on loan at AFC Bournemouth.
“We will count on him,” head coach Ruben Baraja said, via Football Espana, before that Barcelona clash.
“It’s very simple. He is our player. And, as long as there is no other different situation, I am not going to evaluate anything else. I’m not going to enter into hypotheses. Giorgi is a Valencia player and is ready to participate.
“When the market is open, clubs buy players. I am focused on tomorrow’s game. He is here, he is ready to participate.
“We cannot talk about situations that have not yet occurred.”
Alisson Becker’s Anfield replacement
Still only 23, Mamardashvili missed out on a move to Bayern Munich recently. He had also caught the eye of Newcastle United and Chelsea, HITC understands.
Spanish football expert Terry Gibson, meanwhile, can understand why Liverpool have adopted such a stance with a man eight years Alisson’s junior.
“Maybe, in a year or two’s, time (Mamardashvili can be the number one),” Gibson tells El Tel and Jon’s La Liga Weekly podcast. “I can see the forward thinking. Alisson might move on in a year or two and then they’ve got a readymade replacement.
“He is a really good goalkeeper. It was actually amazing watching him in the European Championships because we know how good he was, and it was interesting to see everyone (else) say ‘he’s really good’!
“You can understand Liverpool being interested. I’m surprised he’s still there to be honest because, after the performance in the European Championships, it opened him up (to major clubs).”
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