Reports in Spain suggest that Mikel Merino could be the subject of a summer bid from Athletic Bilbao.
The 21 year old was born in Pamplona and therefore qualifies to play for the La Liga club due to his Basque heritage, but it has been suggested that an offer of only £13m would be tabled for the midfielder.
Supporters were quick to dismiss the rumour on Twitter, and were sceptical about the low price tag:
Danny Drinkwater cost Chelsea £35 million in the Summer. Not a chance Merino is worth less than him.
— Lewis (@lewyakers) 24 March 2018
Why would we want to sell full stop. Big future
? Anthony Coglan (@littletopcat) 24 March 2018
13 million they can jog on
? $¥ (@Ctrl_Si) 24 March 2018
£13m haha….jokers! £40m minimum #nufc
? Gareth (@garethmunting) 24 March 2018
More like 40 in this transfer climate. No reason to sell him anyway.
? Danny Brown (@DannyBroooon) 24 March 2018
And so the whole selling everyone gossip starts again
? Nick Fielder (@FielderNicholas) 24 March 2018
He’s a future star must be mad if we sell him.
? (@63eFierce) 24 March 2018
Let`s give this lad a chance, I know recently form may have dipped, but with correct support get the feeling he could be some player
? Graham Townsley (@No9Legends) 22 March 2018
Verdict:
Mikel is still effectively on loan from Borussia Dortmund until the end of the season, and will only make his move permanent in the summer for £6.3million.
He spoke out last week about how much he is enjoying playing for us, and I think it would be highly unlikely that he would want to leave just a year after arriving on Tyneside.
Playing for Bilbao can be a pull because of the select group of players that can play for the Basque team, but he seems settled here, and it would be a shock to see him leave anytime soon.