Mikel Merino (now playing for Real Sociedad)

[Kanji]

Honestly, if it was to make room for the Turkish lad as a more attacking option, I'd let him go. Not been impressed since the injury, looked a bit lightweight since then.

 

 

 

Since returning from an injury he's suddenly become lightweight...wot

[STM]

In an ordinary world I'd be gutted to lose Merino but sadly this is what it has come to, not building a squad but selling players to bring in funds.

[Away Toon]

We have no idea  how bad his back injury was or if its the reason behind Rafa benching him pretty permanently. Although like most players that don't get picked for a while his reputation on here at least only got more and more glowing the more he didn't play, I thought he was slow and  lightweight to play in a midfield two for the premier league and certainly not good at tracking players when out of possession. A bit of a luxury player that we certainly can't afford with our current squad at the moment. I thought he might work in a much more attacking role as rumour has it he plays for the Spanish U21's but so far Rafa has shown no inclination to play him there.

[Altamullan]

If he wants to be away, then fair enough. But I really liked the lad and thought he was going to be a world beater. Even though his later games/performances were patchy I got the sense he really backs himself and wants to be somewhere he is believed in and relied upon/will be a regular. If true, fair play to him. Not at all sure it is anything to do with his reported back problem.

[Dave]

If he wants to be away, then fair enough. But I really liked the lad and thought he was going to be a world beater. Even though his later games/performances were patchy I got the sense he really backs himself and wants to be somewhere he is believed in and relied upon/will be a regular. If true, fair play to him. Not at all sure it is anything to do with his reported back problem.

 

 

Would be massively disappointed but if he doesn't want to stay then there's no alternative.

[TRon]

Problem with players wanting to leave before they've had a chance to develop properly is we are not going to get their full value when we sell, like Thauvin. Wouldn't mind if we were going to get £25m, but it will be some piddling fee like £10m.

[Optimistic Nut]

Make sure we whack in a decent sell-on fee.

[Ikon]

So, it seem like he has a release clause (£10.5m). Bad if true, but maybe that was the only way of getting him to sign. Nah probably just us being stupid is my guess.. At least we can afford to give our staff some more time to continue monitoring players.

 

Read more at: https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/revealed-mikel-merino-s-10-5m-release-clause-at-newcastle-1-9220943

[LoveItIfWeBeatU]

No mention of a release clause here: -

 

Could Mikel Merino leave Newcastle by the 'end of the week'? Reports in Spain claim exit is imminent

Newcastle United midfielder Mikel Merino wants first-team football next season and is agitating for an exit

 

By Chris Waugh NUFC Writer

 

Real Sociedad “expect” Mikel Merino’s Newcastle United future to be resolved before the end of the week - and are confident they have held off stiff competition for the midfielder.

 

Athletic Bilbao, Real Betis and Sevilla have all expressed an interest in Merino , whose representatives are pushing for a St James’ Park exit this summer.

 

According to Marca , Sociedad believe they have convinced the Spain Under-21 international to move to the Anoeta Stadium, having already offered £10million for the 22-year-old.

 

It is claimed that the San Sebastian outfit are confident of luring Merino, who was born in Pamplona, back to the Basque Country and hope a deal can be struck before the end of the month.

 

If that turns out to be the case, then Merino would depart before Newcastle report back for pre-season training next Monday - though, as things stand, the midfielder is expected to return to Tyneside early next month.

 

No fee has yet been accepted by United, with Rafa Benitez hoping to sign a replacement before Merino departs, although an exit is starting to appear likely.

 

Benitez would ideally like to keep Merino but the Spain Under-21 international is agitating for first-team football, and his representatives have been actively seeking interest in their client over the past few weeks.

 

Newcastle have not given up hope of holding on to Merino, but Benitez privately acknowledges that he cannot keep a player on Tyneside if they are determined to depart.

 

Merino has started just one match since January and made only three substitute appearances for Newcastle - and played 20 minutes in total - across the final two months of the season, during which time he sometimes failed to even make the matchday squad when fit.

 

The Magpies will demand a fee in excess of £10m for Merino, while Benitez will not allow his compatriot to leave until he is confident a replacement can be signed as the United manager does not want to risk being left short of options in midfield.

 

At this stage, Sociedad appear to be the most-likely destination for Merino if he does depart, but Merino’s camp appear to be keeping his options open for now, given the interest from three other La Liga clubs.

 

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/could-mikel-merino-leave-newcastle-14823939

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Seems a very odd sale, and strange that he's given up so quickly. We need to sign 2 CMs if he goes IMO, can see us finding that very difficult.

 

Also £10m isn't enough.

[Conjo]

I may be mixing up transfer fees here, but didn't we pay ~£12.5m (loan and transfer fee) for him? Why would we accept a release clause lower than what we paid?

[Ikon]

Think we paid £9m or something around that in total. Not sure if correct numbers.

[LoveItIfWeBeatU]

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/mikel-merinos-release-clause-newcastle-14825439

 

Mikel Merino's release clause: Why Newcastle United may have no option but to sell midfielder

Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez would prefer to keep Mikel Merino, but the midfielder may leave regardless

 

By Chris Waugh

 

Newcastle United midfielder Mikel Merino has a release clause in his contract - meaning the Magpies will be powerless to keep him if it is met.

 

It is understood that Merino’s representatives insisted such a clause was inserted into the £8million deal which brought the midfielder to Tyneside from Borussia Dortmund last summer, given that Newcastle themselves had the option to sign the 22-year-old on a permanent basis.

 

ESPN reports that the clause is “set at around €12m” - which is roughly £10.5m. Although that figure has not been confirmed, it is understood that such a clause does exist - and could be as much as €15m (£13.2m).

 

Real Sociedad have yet to trigger that clause in the Spain Under-21 international’s contract so far but, if they do and Merino wants to go, Newcastle will have no option but to allow him to depart, even though Rafa Benitez would ideally like to keep the midfielder.

 

Athletic Bilbao, Real Betis and Sevilla have all expressed an interest in Merino, too, whose representatives are pushing for a St James’ Park exit this summer.

 

Reports in Spain on Monday claimed Sociedad are “confident” they will wrap up the signing of Merino soon, possibly before the end of the month, with the midfielder believed to be keen to move to the Anoeta Stadium.

 

If that turns out to be the case, then Merino would depart before Newcastle report back for pre-season training next Monday - though, as things stand, the midfielder is expected to return to Tyneside early next month.

 

No fee has yet been accepted by United , with Benitez hoping to sign a replacement before Merino departs - and it is understood the Magpies have been scouting a number of potential replacements as a contingency in case the midfielder leaves - although an exit is starting to appear likely. Newcastle will wait for his release clause to be activated before they will countenance a sale, however.

 

Benitez would ideally like to keep Merino but the Spain Under-21 international is agitating for first-team football, and his representatives have been actively seeking interest in their client over the past few weeks.

 

Benitez would ideally like to keep Merino but the Spain Under-21 international is agitating for first-team football, and his representatives have been actively seeking interest in their client over the past few weeks.

 

Newcastle have not given up hope of holding on to Merino, but Benitez privately acknowledges that he cannot keep a player on Tyneside if they are determined to depart.

 

Merino has started just one match since January and made only three substitute appearances for Newcastle - and played 20 minutes in total - across the final two months of the season, during which time he sometimes failed to even make the matchday squad when fit.

 

At this stage, Sociedad appear to be the most-likely destination for Merino if he does depart, but the midfielder’s camp are keeping his options open for now, given the interest from three other La Liga clubs.

[Ketsbaia]

Why on earth did we put such a pathetically low release fee in there? Embarrassing. Further weakening of the squad in an area where we already needed an extra body.

 

Something's not quite right, mind. The way he's disappeared since returning from injury.

[ToonTastic]

There was something in the press last week about him wanting a clause when he moves as well so he can make a move to another club.

[r0cafella]

We didn’t insert the release clause his agents did, we just agreed to them.

 

It illustrates how desperate Rafa was/is to get players in that suit his system.

 

As usual woeful bit of business.

[Deuce]

I may be mixing up transfer fees here, but didn't we pay ~£12.5m (loan and transfer fee) for him? Why would we accept a release clause lower than what we paid?

 

Because, Rafa aside, we’re run by absolute dipshits. Have to haggle over every last shilling when we’re buying, but totally willing to bend over and accept crap fees when selling.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I may be mixing up transfer fees here, but didn't we pay ~£12.5m (loan and transfer fee) for him? Why would we accept a release clause lower than what we paid?

 

Because, Rafa aside, we’re run by absolute dipshits. Have to haggle over every last shilling when we’re buying, but totally willing to bend over and accept crap fees when selling.

 

Not sure this is true, are our sales particularly bad? Always thought we were fairly good at getting decent fees for people, can't be bothered to look it up though.

[mrmojorisin75]

love merino, think he could become a great player

 

fewming

[Yorkie]

Difficult to give much of a shit tbh. He's the type of player who was always likely to move on after about five minutes. The presence of such a paltry release clause suggested he was always purchased with a view to making a quick buck.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Difficult to give much of a shit tbh. He's the type of player who was always likely to move on after about five minutes. The presence of such a paltry release clause suggested he was always purchased with a view to making a quick buck.

 

Why do you say that?

[Yorkie]

Difficult to give much of a shit tbh. He's the type of player who was always likely to move on after about five minutes. The presence of such a paltry release clause suggested he was always purchased with a view to making a quick buck.

 

Why do you say that?

 

Thought I explained it in the second sentence tbh. He's young a good player; so was bound to be snapped up in no time at all given how low his release fee is.

[Yorkie]

That reads really snippy. wasn't intended.

[Deuce]

I may be mixing up transfer fees here, but didn't we pay ~£12.5m (loan and transfer fee) for him? Why would we accept a release clause lower than what we paid?

 

Because, Rafa aside, we’re run by absolute dipshits. Have to haggle over every last shilling when we’re buying, but totally willing to bend over and accept crap fees when selling.

 

Not sure this is true, are our sales particularly bad? Always thought we were fairly good at getting decent fees for people, can't be bothered to look it up though.

 

I don’t know how accurate it is tbh

 

We did get good money for Sissoko and Gini

[LoveItIfWeBeatU]

Sounds like Merino (well his advisor/agent) insisted on the low release clause as a condition of him signing. If he'd done really well the most NUFC would get for him would be the release clause amount which is a relatively small profit on the fee paid for him. NUFC must have hoped he'd fall in love with the club.