Newcastle United are reportedly set to confirm the departure of Mikel Merino in the coming days, and plenty of fans are annoyed they never really got to see the best of him.

According to The Chronicle, Merino’s move to Real Sociedad will be official in the next couple of days after the Spanish club activated his £10m release clause.

Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla and Real Betis were all in the hunt for the 22 year-old’s signature, but the player has told Newcastle he wants to join Sociedad, and has even agreed a five-year deal with the club.

The Magpies signed Ki Sung-yueng on a free transfer after South Korea were knocked out of the World Cup, so in a business sense it’s actually a very savvy move from the Tyneside club.

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In effect, they’ve replaced Merino with a more experienced, less injury prone player, and made a £10m profit along the way that could be invested into other areas.

Of course, fans are rightfully dubious about whether that money actually will be reinvested into the squad, and the sense that they never really go to see Merino in top form is frustrating to say the least.

The 22 year-old started just 14 Premier League games as he struggled through most of the season with a back injury, and there was a real feeling he could be Jonjo Shelvey’s long-term midfield partner when he first joined.

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Fans have been sharing their thoughts on Twitter, and you can find some of the best reactions down below…