Matteo Moretto Transfer Column: Dani Olmo, Mikel Merino, Alphonso Davies and Trent Alexander-Arnold
Matteo Moretto gives Football España exclusive information on the latest business dominating the newspapers in Spain, as revealed in Daily Briefing by Fabrizio Romano.
As has often been said, Mikel Merino wants to choose carefully which path to take. Real Sociedade considers him a lost cause, they will not try to keep him anymore, and at the moment the boy does not want to rush to say yes to an offer knowing that maybe others could arrive in the coming days. He wants to have everything clear on the table before making the call.
At the moment, Atletico Madrid are a bit pessimistic about this, after their failed attempt to include him in a double deal for Robin Le Normand. Barcelona told him that they are currently focused on other things, meanwhile Arsenal may now move for him after completing the purchase of Riccardo Calafiori. Manager Mikel Arteta holds Merino in particularly high esteem, it should be noted.
RB Leipzig striker Dani Olmo would go to Barcelona if he could choose. But Barcelona are currently working on Nico Williams, although they are also in contact with Olmo's agents.
I think that first we have to understand what is the future of Nico, if he wants to go to Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, or decide to stay at Athletic Club, and then we can understand the intention of Barça with Olmo . Nico and Olmo are two options that Barcelona are working on in parallel and both are serious pursuits, but the priority at the moment is Nico Williams. After Nico's future is resolved one way or another, the Olmo matter will be dealt with.
At the moment, Real Madrid is quietly working on some contract renewals, such as Ferland Mendy and some players whose contracts expire in the summer of 2025 and who could still arrive for free in a year. The two most famous examples being the Bayern Munich left back Alphonso Davies Davies and Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
As for departures, I don't expect to see much from Real Madrid in the next month. The one perhaps exceptional is Dani Ceballos, who, as we reported before the summer, is open to leave in search of more minutes. However, with Real Madrid reluctant to let him go cheap, I think he will only get a better idea of how he will play in mid-August, after the European Supercup against Atalanta.
Matteo Moretto will be back with more transfer news in the coming days, providing exclusive information on the biggest stories in Spain and Italy.
