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Bid imminent: La Liga club line up offer for Newcastle £10m-rated first teamer - report
La Liga club Athletic Bilbao are lining up a bid to sign Newcastle United midfielder Mikel Merino, according to a report.
Spanish news publication Deia claims that Bilbao are plotting a move to sign the 21-year-old first teamer, who is valued at £10million.
It is understood that the deep-lying playmaker has been in contact with Bilbao after they tried and failed to sign him in January, but they are looking to return this summer with another move.
Football Insider verdict:
Newcastle turned Merino’s loan switch from Borussia Dortmund into a permanent one just months into the 2017/18 season and his long-term future should be at St James’ Park. The dazzling central midfielder was a real success story in the first half of the campaign, but found himself behind Mohamed Diame and Jonjo Shelvey in recent months. However, there is no need to write him off and the Spaniard should be considered a crucial first teamer within Rafael Benitez’s squad. It would be a major mistake to let Merino leave for around £10million and should double his price tag if anything. He can offer Newcastle a real control in the centre of the park and the left-footed ace is only going to get better with age. Merino is still a talented youngster with lots of room to develop and has to be involved in the first-team squad competing for a starting XI position for the foreseeable future.
In the latest Newcastle United transfer news, they are in talks to offload their powerhouse defender.
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