Mikel Merino, Spain’s Euro 2024 winner and Real Sociedad midfielder, will meet with his club and representative to discuss his future after the Euros.
Aston Villa are thought to be interested in Merino, who came off the bench for Spain in the dying moments of the Euro 2024 final against England, replacing Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal. Merino appeared in all of Spain’s Euros matches, including an extra-time victory against hosts Germany.
He has now been linked with a move to the Premier League, with Villa said to be ‘keen’ on getting him to Villa Park as they prepare for another attack on the Premier League and a new challenge in the Champions League.
Arsenal are also reportedly interested in the 28-year-old, who joined Sociedad in 2018. According to Goal, the Gunners want to offer him a ‘deal of a lifetime’ to move from La Liga to the Premier League this summer. Mikel Arteta’s side are thought to be the favourites to sign the winger, ahead of Unai Emery’s Villa.
Merino spoke on his future last month, saying, “The next step must come from myself, from me, from analyzing myself, understanding what player I am now, where I am, and where I want to go. And how should it be done?
Merino Worlds?
“Now at a football level I still have one more year at Real and I am in the best possible place to live and grow. At the level of rumours, it is something that I do not give importance to because I believe that a Euros is the most important thing you can face and requires 100% of your attention.
“So when the Euro is over and the days go by, I will meet with the club and my representative, to see what they have to say to me and what they don’t, and we’ll see.”
Villa have already been busy in the summer transfer window bolstering Emery’s squad with Ian Maatsen from Chelsea, Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea from Juventus, Lewis Dobbin from Everton and Ross Barkley from Luton Town.
COMMENTS