Barcelona consider including defender in swap deal offer to sign Euro 2024 winner - Reports
Barcelona are reportedly looking to snap up Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino - who won Euro 2024 with Spain - in a swap deal involving a centre-back. The 28-year-old scored his only goal of the continental competition in the 2-1 extra-time win over Germany in the quarter-final with a minute remaining before penalties.
Merino is also coming off a solid season with Sociedad, contributing eight goals and five assists in 43 games across competitions. He scored and assisted in three different competitions, with the most coming in La Liga - five goals and three assists in 32 games.
With his contract running out next summer, Merino has been the subject of interest from multiple clubs, including Barca. As per SPORT (via Barca Universal), they are looking to buy the midfielder, lowering Sociedad's asking price by offering a defender.
The report also says that Atletico Madrid and Arsenal are also in the fray, but a decision on his future is unlikely to be taken before he returns from vacation after his triumphant Euro 2024 campaign with Spain in Germany.
With Robin Le Normand's exit, Sociedad need a defender. Barca hope to capitalise on that by offering one of Clement Lenglet, Eric Garcia, Inigo Martinez and Mika Faye in a potential Merino move that could cost over €25 million.
Barcelona starlet Lamine Yamal breaks records galore in Spain's triumphant Euro 2024 campaign
Barcelona midfield Lamine Yamal was a key player in Spain's triumphant Euro 2024 campaign. The 17-year-old contributed a goal and four assists as he emerged as one of the standouts in the continental competition.
Yamal's assist in the 3-0 group-stage win over Croatia made him the youngest assist-provider in Euro history. His goal in the 2-1 semi-final win over France made him the youngest-ever scorer in the competition and the youngest to appear in a major tournament semifinal.
Although he didn't score in the 2-1 final win over England in Berlin, the Barcelona star produced the assist for Nico Williams's opener, also becoming the youngest player to feature in a major-tournament final and win one.