La Liga heavyweights Barcelona have prepared their bid to sign 27-year-old Spanish international Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad.
According to a report by Spanish outlet SPORT, Mikel Merino is the subject of interest from Barcelona. The Catalan giants are keen on signing a midfielder in the summer transfer window. And they have formulated an offer with a base fee worth €25 million to convince Real Sociedad to sell the Spanish international.
The rise of Mikel Merino as a behemoth in La Liga
Mikel Merino has been one of the best midfielders in La Liga since returning to his homeland from England in July 2018. A native of Pamplona, he graduated from the CA Osasuna youth division but had to wait until he joined Real Sociedad half a dozen years ago before finding a stable footing in his career.
The 27-year-old has turned out nearly 250 times thus far for Real Sociedad, chipping in with 27 goals and 30 assists. The Spanish midfielder has also become a regular for his national team, making 20 appearances for La Roja. However, a bid move might be on the cards in the summer transfer window, with his exploits capturing the attention of many well-known outfits.
Several high-profile clubs have shown interest in securing Mikel Merino’s services in the summer transfer window, with Premier League bigwigs, in particular, eager to bring him back to England. However, a move across La Liga might be on the cards, with Barcelona keen on signing him.
Barcelona interested
Barcelona’s interest in Mikel Merino is understandable. The Catalan giants are scouring the market for a midfielder heading into the summer transfer window, with Sergio Busquets leaving a gaping hole in the midfield department. So, the 27-year-old Spaniard has emerged as a viable target for Barcelona.
The latest update has revealed that the Catalan giants have prepared their bid to sign the Spanish international from Real Sociedad. Barcelona will offer a base fee of €25 million while proposing €5 million in add-ons.
With Merino’s contract with Real Sociedad expiring in 2025, a package worth €30 million is reasonable, considering his age profile. However, it is unclear if the offer will be enough to convince the Basque outfit to part ways with the 27-year-old in the summer transfer window.
