Newcastle United would be making a downgrade swapping Mikel Merino for Roque Mesa

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Newcastle United are said to be interested in Swansea City midfielder Roque Mesa.

According to Sevilla ABC, Newcastle United are interested in signing Roque Mesa from Swansea City, but they would be better off simply keeping Mikel Merino.

Merino has been linked with a move away from Newcastle, as reported by the Chronicle, after struggling for game time over the second half of last campaign.

However, if Merino was to depart, and Mesa brought in – then Newcastle would be downgrading.

Merino was one of Newcastle’s star players over the early part of last season, when his performances caught the eye.

Injury derailed the Spaniard’s season, and he never managed to come back to the same level, but he has shown the potential that he does have.

At 21, Merino has plenty of time left to develop into a star at Newcastle, which is something that cannot be said of Mesa.

The diminutive midfielder struggled badly at Swansea last season, and at the age of 29, it may be that he just isn’t suited to playing in the Premier League.

Newcastle should, therefore, look at other targets if they are to sell Merino, as losing him and bringing in Mesa would make Rafael Benitez’s options weaker rather than stronger.