Newcastle United legend Malcolm Macdonald wants the club to sacrifice midfielder Mikel Merino to buy a quality striker this summer.
Spanish youngster Merino has been heavily linked with a return to La Liga this summer after a disappointing first season with the club, with five clubs reportedly in pursuit of the 22-year-old.
Macdonald has now called for the club to let him leave if he wants to do so, and spend the money they receive on a new striker, which is their top priority this summer.
In a column for the Chronicle, Macdonald said: “If it comes to the crunch I won’t mind if Newcastle sacrifice Mikel Merino in order to get a top-quality striker. Merino seems to be determined to manufacture a move out of England after having his head turned back home in Spain. Well, if that’s the case then United should take £20m and top-up their striker pot.
“They require a finisher more than they require Merino. That’s the bottom line. The lad looked to have a lot going for him when he first arrived and became United’s No 1 playmaker after Jonjo Shelvey got sent off on the opening day. However since his good start the young Spaniard hasn’t improved one jot I’m afraid. He’s still young, of course, and if he’s prepared to stay and learn under his fellow countryman Rafa Benitez then all well and good. But if not, he can go.
“Shelvey is a better player right now, more clued in to the English game. He and Mo Diame are an excellent centre midfield partnership. It looks as though Rafa will have to boost his transfer kitty by selling, and so the likes of Merino and Aleksandar Mitrovic, who can bring decent money, are vital to any reshuffle.”
OPINION
The thought from Macdonald here is understandable, with the Magpies clearly needing to buy a top-quality striker this summer. To do so they will need to splash the cash, which under Mike Ashley’s tight budget is not possible unless a first-team player is sold. Ashley has always said that Benitez can spend every penny he makes, and therefore a sale is a surefire way of beefing up that budget. In Merino’s case the club would be in line for a healthy profit, having bought the 22-year-old for just £6million in October. Macdonald seems to think that they would be able to get £20million for Merino, but that looks to be extremely optimistic. The club seem to be in line for about £13million for the youngster, which would see them double their money and give Benitez a healthy budget to work with for a new striker. Whether Benitez would agree with Macdonald and decide to allow Merino to leave is however another matter.