![Mikel Merino during Spain-France (2-1) Mikel Merino during Spain-France (2-1)](https://www.fcbarcelonanoticias.com/uploads/s1/14/22/48/7/mikel-merino-v-francia.jpeg)
THE CULÉS HAVE SEVERAL COMPETITORS IN THE 'RACE'
A LaLiga rival is pressing to 'steal' Barça from its great goal for the center of the field
Published:18/07/2024 - 19:01h
Updated:19/07/2024 - 11:13h
Mikel Merino is the one chosen to reinforce Barça's midfield. However, Atlético de Madrid wants to speed up its options to end up taking the Navarrese player into its ranks.
Once finalised the Eurocopa, the FC Barcelona has set up the 'machinery' to concretise the signing of Nico Williams. The extreme is the big favourite of Hansi Flick and Joan Laporta, by what from the club advance in his traspaso and trust that they will be able to tackle the signing. In parallel, from the offices blaugranas work in the incorporation of a mediocampista and, as 'SPORT', Mikel Merino is the name that leads the list of candidates, although to day of today have not produced significant movements.
With the return to the rule 1/1 and the contracting of the footballer of the Athletic Club of Bilbao like priorities, the operation of the player of the Real Sociedad awaits in the recámara. The agreement of the midfield player with the 'txuri-urdin' expires in 2025 and everything aims to that will abandon Anoeta this summer, by what the donostiarras will have to access to a traspaso 'low cost'.
This situation no only would want to be taken advantage of by the Barça. The Arsenal of Mikel Arteta also would have him in his diary of futuribles and would be tempting him with the option to go back to play in the Premier League, where already dressed the caiseta of the Newcastle, and the Champions League, to the equal that the culés. But the 'gunners' are not the only competition of the entity blaugrana.
As 'The Chiringuito of Jugones', the Athletic of Madrid would be more than interested in doing with the services of Merino, that would be a request expresses of Diego Pablo Simeone. The managerial colchonera would have proposed him other names, but the 'Cholo' would insist in the arrival of the footballer of the Real. The Atleti would have wanted to include the name of the navarro in the operation of Him Normand, but the 'txuri-urdin' denied and are had to negotiate both traspasos individually.
His price, a problem
The clause of rescission of Merino would be valuada in 60 million euros, but the donostiarras could arrive to an agreement with the rojiblancos by a figure that would oscillate between the 30 and 35 million euros. By his part, the Barça would look for to recess the cost of the operation offering some players in return, with the names of Ansu Fati and Mika Faye like main 'sacrificed'.