Mikel Merino could be in contention to start for Arsenal against Athletic Club Bilbao in the Champions League later today.
The Spain international could have been wearing the Athletic shirt had they succeeded in their efforts to sign him on several occasions in the past.
That’s according to Deia, and they cover why the La Liga side failed to secure the current Arsenal player at different stages of his career.
Merino graduated from CA Osasuna’s youth system and spent two years with their senior team before moving to Borussia Dortmund in 2016. Athletic first tried to sign him between 2013 and 2015, and it’s claimed that during this period, they had their best chance of signing him.
The report states he was available for less than €4m, but the price then was deemed too high for the Basque club, who decided not to make advances.
In 2015, Merino impressed in a friendly against Athletic, who made another attempt and saw the Arsenal man move to BVB a year later.
Borussia Dortmund then let him join Newcastle United in 2017 and in January 2018, the La Liga side reportedly offered €10m to the Magpies. The move didn’t go through this time because Newcastle’s then manager, Rafael Benítez, stopped his exit.
Athletic believe Merino ‘escaped’ from their clutches on multiple occasions.