Athletic Bilbao retain interest in Newcastle star Mikel Merino and will pounce for the 21-year-old should the Magpies get relegated this season, according to El Gol Digital.
The Spanish news outlet claim that the Basque club made several efforts to sign Merino from Borussia Dortmund during the summer, but the midfielder opted to join Newcastle instead.
El Gol now report that Bilbao have not lost their interest in the midfielder, and are ready to make a renewed bid for Merino in the summer if Newcastle suffer relegation from the Premier League.
It is said that a deal could be struck in that instance if Bilbao made a bid for Merino that was higher than the £6million the Magpies paid for the young Spaniard.
Merino has impressed in England so far with his creativity and vision in midfield, with his passing particularly standing out as Newcastle look to retain their top-flight status.
Good move for Newcastle?
Absolutely not, but there may not be much they can do about it if they are indeed relegated.
As always, teams that drop down into the Championship very rarely manage to hold on to their best players, and Merino is most certainly one of the Magpies’ most exciting talents.
Since his arrival on loan from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, Merino has impressed so much that Newcastle have already exercised their option to buy him permanently.
He offers creativity in midfield that none other in the squad can muster, and when he is fully adapted to the Premier League and life in England he will surely improve even further.
This is Futbol rating: 1/10
Likely to happen?
That is totally dependent on Newcastle’s performance between now and May.
If the Magpies stay in the Premier League, then Merino will be going nowhere. He could become a seriously good player for them as they look to cement their top-flight status, and is already becoming a crowd favourite on Tyneside.
If they are in fact relegated, then it is possible he will go to Bilbao.
However, there will surely be other clubs interested, and if another Premier League club were to come in then Merino may well opt to stay in England.
This is Futbol rating: 4/10