A section of Newcastle United fans have been left raging after it was reported that midfielder Mikel Merino is on the verge of leaving St James’ Park, just a year after he was brought in from Borussia Dortmund.
Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie claimed on his personal Twitter account on Thursday that Merino, 22, is due to have a medical with Real Sociedad within the next two days after the Spanish club triggered the £10million release clause in his contract.
Mikel Merino is on the verge of return to Spain with Real Sociedad. We understand the La Liga side have activated the midfielder’s £10m release clause and he’ll have a medical by the weekend.
— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) July 5, 2018
Merino became an instant hit with the fans last season, but dropped down the pecking order in the second half of the campaign thanks to the improved form of Mohamed Diame.
Some Newcastle fans are still furious on Twitter though, both with the club for putting in a low release clause and with the player for wanting to leave so soon.
One supporter claimed that selling Merino and signing Ki Sung-yueng on a free transfer is “peak Mike Ashley.”
This is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets:
https://twitter.com/EvG_Football/status/1014897897291345922
https://twitter.com/agbnufc/status/1014899719687073792
Good riddance there must be a reason he has cheap clauses wherever he goes
— Aaron Olsson (@AOlssonNUFC) July 5, 2018
Bad deal we should keep him.
— Sim (@kingsim2004) July 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/mickclark6441/status/1014749905586409473
https://twitter.com/JonathanComyn/status/1014893628504920069
https://twitter.com/Obtuse2theNth/status/1014908265258504192
OPINION
Merino is one of them players that you know is likely to go on and do well after leaving Newcastle, leaving the club regretting including that £10million release clause in his deal. There are suggestions that the player’s attitude is wrong, but most players these days have this kind of attitude and will move when and where they want to get better deals, more game-time and increased exposure to their national team. Merino will get all that in Spain and will probably be a success there. It’s not ideal, but Ki is a good replacement, even though he was a free transfer.