£52m Bruno Guimaraes alternative has Newcastle United 'in mind' as Arsenal push for cut-price deal

Merino is currently away at Euro 2024 with the Spain national team, featuring in all three of his country’s group-stage wins to progress to the last-16. The 27-year-old is a sought-after midfielder this summer as he heads into the final year of his contract at Sociedad.

La Liga giants Barcelona have been heavily linked with a move as have Premier League side Arsenal. According to reports in Spain, Merino will likely snub a new contract offer in favour of leaving San Sebastian.

Although Merino has a £52million release clause in his contract, the report adds Merino could leave for as little as £21million with just 12 months left on his contract.

Merino played 25 times for Newcastle during the 2017-18 season before being sold to Sociedad for around £10million. Former Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez admitted he knew Merino’s stay at St James’ Park would be short due to the low release clause negotiated into his contract.

But the midfielder is still fondly remembered on Tyneside and admits St James’ Park remains in his ‘heart’.

Merino told Spanish news outlet Faro de Vigo: "[Newcastle was] very good. What marked on me the most in Newcastle was the stadium, the fans.

“I think it was a unique life, feeling what St James’ Park is, I will always have it in my heart and mind because it is something unique.

“Get a ball in your area and people go crazy shouting as if you were about to score a goal, and I said ‘let’s see, there are 80 metres to there and they are 11 ahead. It is impossible for us to score a goal’. But people believed it and encouraged you to move forward.”

Since leaving Newcastle, Merino has established himself as one of the top midfielders in Spain. And he has no regrets about leaving England.

“If there is one thing I am happy about throughout this journey, it is that the steps I have taken in my career have been perfect and at the right time to continue growing as a footballer who has undergone a growth process,” he added. “I don’t want it to end.”

Merino has attracted plenty of interest from Arsenal, managed by fellow Basque native Mikel Arteta. The Gunners are looking to strengthen their midfield options this summer and are also long-term admirers of current Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.

Arsenal opted against triggering the Brazilian’s £100million release clause that expired earlier this week. Still, Newcastle intend on keeping hold of Guimaraes this summer so any negotiations will prove difficult.

Merino will be viewed as a cheaper alternative for Arsenal this summer once the midfielder’s Euro 2024 campaign is over.