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Barcelona 'dealt blow in Mikel Merino pursuit'

Barcelona 'dealt blow in Mikel Merino pursuit'
© Reuters
Barcelona may reportedly end their pursuit of Mikel Merino as Real Sociedad refuse to lower their €60m (£51.5m) asking price for the midfielder.

Barcelona may reportedly be forced to abandon plans to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino.

La Blaugrana manager Ronald Koeman is thought to be eyeing midfield reinforcements for the 2021-22 season, but the Catalan giants ultimately missed out on the signing of Georginio Wijnaldum to Paris Saint-Germain.

Wijnaldum was heavily expected to reunite with former Netherlands manager Koeman at Camp Nou, but Barca are now being forced to seek out alternatives.

Real Sociedad's Merino has reportedly emerged as a potential target, but Marca now claims that the cash-strapped Catalans may also be forced to end their pursuit of the 24-year-old.

Barca are focusing on the signings of free agents as they battle a mammoth €1bn debt, and the report claims that Sociedad will not allow Merino to depart for anything less than his €60m (£51.5m) release clause.

Merino scored two goals and set up six more in 36 appearances across all competitions last season, and his deal at Sociedad does not expire until 2025.

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Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum pictured on March 10, 2021
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid29226164204472
2Barcelona29197360342664
3GironaGirona29195559342562
4Athletic Bilbao29168550262456
5Atletico MadridAtletico29174854342055
6Real Sociedad291210742311146
7Real BetisBetis29101273433142
8Valencia28117103232040
9Villarreal29108114751-438
10Getafe2991193742-538
11Las PalmasLas Palmas29107122932-337
12Osasuna29106133343-1036
13AlavesAlaves2988132635-932
14Mallorca29612112535-1030
15Rayo Vallecano29611122538-1329
16Sevilla29610133644-828
17Celta Vigo2969143244-1227
18CadizCadiz29313132040-2022
19Granada2828183058-2814
20Almeria29110182857-2913


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