Not long ago, reports indicated that Mikel Merino was a possible option for FC Barcelona as the club looked to reinforce the midfield. With star players like De Jong and Pedri injured, Barcelona needs a La Liga player to fill in the voids left by injuries at the club. Recently, news regarding Merino's future club has surfaced.
Since his time at La Real, Mikel Merino has stood out as one of the most consistent performers for the club. Moreover, being well-equipped with attacking abilities, he surely could be a low-cost, effective option for FC Barcelona. Regarding the same, Barca manager Hansi Flick had also given his green signal to sign him, given his utility against a possible transfer fee of €20 million.
Mikel Merino wants time to decide his next move
Meanwhile, according to recent reports, it has emerged that Mikel Merino wants to take his time to make a decision on his next club. Merino acknowledges it as a life-changing choice, so he wants to carefully consider his next career move. Being aware of the possible consequences, Merino doesn't want to make this decision quickly.
Though Merino had announced that he would decide his future after the Euro tournament, Real Sociedad was certain he would not renew his contract with them. On a previous occasion, Mikel Merino had opined about Barca's interest in him,
""Links to Barça? I take it as something positive. It means I'm doing things well.""Mikel Merino
As in the case of Nico Williams, the player's favorability might help Barca with the deal. Though the Catalan club is currently engaged in Nico's deal, they are well aware that Merino's addition could be a crucial one, given the player's heroics in La Liga so far. Moreover, the player's transfer fee is much less than other options, making him an ideal profile for Barca.
Any further confirmation from Merino's side is still awaited, but Barca hopes the Spanish star joins them for their new Barca project under Flick.