---
title: "Aston Villa: Real Sociedad aware of Mikel Merino interest"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-premier-league-mikel-merino-transfer-news-updates/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2022-11-26T08:20:36Z"
modified: "2022-11-26T08:20:36Z"
---

# Aston Villa: Real Sociedad aware of Mikel Merino interest

**Real Sociedad are aware of interest from [Aston Villa](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/) in midfielder Mikel Merino as Unai Emery looks to sign him, according to a fresh transfer update.**

### The Lowdown: Merino impressing in Spain

The 26-year-old has been a key member of Sociedad’s midfield for some time now, making [173 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mikel-merino/alletore/spieler/338424) in total and chipping in with 22 assists and 18 goals.

Merino’s current deal [expires](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mikel-merino/profil/spieler/338424) at the end of the 2024/25 season, so time is slowly ticking away in terms of them being able to receive a big fee for his services. Now, it looks as though Villa could be one of the front-runners to snap up Merino.

### The Latest: Emery wants player at Villa

According to [*Mundo Deportivo*](https://www.mundodeportivo.com/) \[via [*Sport Witness*](https://sportwitness.co.uk/unai-emery-would-love-to-take-player-to-aston-villa-in-january-pl-sides-financial-power-is-indisputable/)\], Emery would ‘love to take’ the [11-time capped](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mikel-merino/profil/spieler/338424) Spain international to the Midlands in January, with Sociedad aware that Villa ‘like’ him.

The Villans’ financial power is described as ‘indisputable’, suggesting they will easily have the funds to sign him.

[Aston Villa latest updates! (Copy)](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/aston-villa-latest-updates-copy-2/)

### The Verdict: Great midfield option

Merino could be a great signing for Villa, with midfield possibly an area of the pitch that Emery could do with freshening up, especially if [Douglas Luiz](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/barcelona-plotting-aston-villa-transfer-25515258) leaves.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”398332″\]

He has been [described](https://www.bangkokpost.com/sports/2226215/i-like-to-think-im-one-of-the-best-real-sociedads-mikel-merino) as the ‘best player’ in La Liga by Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil in the past, highlighting his quality, and he can provide both defensive nous and end product in the final third.

Merino’s average of [2.4 tackles and 2.3 clearances](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/238916/Show/Mikel-Merino) per game in the league this season are proof of the former, while six assists show how adept he is in the latter.