Newcastle United have performed admirably in their return to the Premier League and a stand-out performer in their side has been Spaniard Mikel Merino, who has quickly become a fan-favourite at the club.
Stand-out performances for the Magpies have caught the attention, with the Borussia Dortmund loanee exceeding expectations so far, but Newcastle face a fierce battle to keep his services for the long-term despite recently signing him to a five-year deal and making his switch permanent.
Spanish outlet El Gol Digital claim La Liga trio Barcelona, Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao have been alerted to the 21-year-old’s talents following his stellar performances this term, with a move to the latter seeming the most likely.
Barcelona and Real Madrid’s strength in depth means that Merino is unlikely to burst into the first-team at either side anytime soon but Athletic, who have a proud history of employing only Basque players, desperately need his impact.
Fortunately, Newcastle swiftly completed a permanent deal for Merino following his meteoric performances this term and that means the Magpies hold the bargaining chips- and they’re unlikely to look to cash-in anytime soon.
Should Barcelona or Real Madrid come calling though, Newcastle would certainly find it difficult to fend off the interest in the Spaniard.
