Real Madrid have reportedly turned their attention towards 25-year-old Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino over a move this summer.
As per a report by Fichajes Futbol, Real Madrid’s quest to bolster their midfield in the summer transfer window has seen them set their sights on Real Sociedad star Mikel Merino. The 25-year-old Spanish midfielder has merely emerged on Los Blancos’ radar for now and a move could be in the offing.
Mikel Merino joined Real Sociedad from Newcastle United in the summer of 2018 and has since made some giant strides in Spanish football. Now regarded as one of the best midfielders on show in La Liga, the 25-year-old midfielder is a mainstay in the middle of the park for La Real, racking up 111 appearances while chipping in with 12 goals and as many assists.
Merino’s progress at Real Sociedad has not gone unnoticed, with some of the biggest clubs across Europe showing an interest in him. The Spanish midfielder has already been linked with Barcelona in recent time, with Real Madrid now emerging in his pursuit.
Real Madrid are reported to be in the market for a midfield reinforcement this summer, as they begin a transitional period under Carlo Ancelotti. The midfield unit, in particular, is in need of a transformation, with Luka Modric in the final phase of his career while Toni Kroos is approaching such a period as well.
In addition, Casemiro will soon turn 30 as well, and it is clear that Real Madrid need to reduce the average age of their midfield unit in order to ensure a smooth transition to the next generation of midfielders. To that end, Lucas Paqueta is among the midfielders linked with Real Madrid, with Los Blancos now setting their sights on Merino.
However, swooping the 25-year-old away from Real Sociedad will be a tall order for the Merengues, who might need to shell out the big bucks in order to land him, seeing as his deal with the Spanish club runs till the summer of 2025.
For now, Merino has popped up on the radar of Real Madrid and a summer move could be on the cards. What now remains to be seen is if the Spanish giants end up launching the offensive for the Real Sociedad midfielder and if La Real can then keep hold of their prized asset.
