Arsenal 'agree personal terms' with player who has Newcastle United 'in his heart'

Despite spending just one season at St James’ Park, the Euro 2024 winner is fondly remembered by Newcastle fans. Merino initially joined on loan from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2017 before United triggered the clause to make his move permanent three months later.

The Spaniard went on to make 25 appearances and scored a memorable late header as the Magpies beat Crystal Palace at James’ Park. There was excitement at what Merino could achieve on Tyneside, however it proved to be a flying visit after Real Sociedad activated his £10million release clause.

For years, Newcastle supporters had wondered why Merino moved on so soon and for such a small fee. Those questions were only recently answered by then manager Rafa Benitez.

“We convinced him (Merino) to come (with a low release clause),” Benitez told Spanish publication AS. “From the beginning, we knew that his time at Newcastle was going to be fleeting

“The idea was that he would bring us quality and convince him to stay with us longer but, due to his quality and being Basque, he was a player that was impossible to retain.”

Merino too has spoken well of his time at Newcastle. Speaking earlier this year, the midfielder said: “Very good. What marked 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.”

Six years after leaving, Merino could be in line for a return to St James’ Park - as an opposition player.

Arsenal want to sign the Spain international with FootballTransfers claiming they have already reached an agreement over personal terms. That said, a formal bid is yet to be submitted, although that could arrive once the Gunners have finalised Riccardo Calafiori’s arrival from Bologna, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Eddie Howe’s men welcome Arsenal to St James’ Park on November 2 in what could be a feisty affair given how last season’s fixture played out.