While things might not be progressing as quickly as some Arsenal fans would have liked, the dominoes do appear to be falling one by one.
HITC understands that a four-year deal has been agreed in principle with the next target on Mikel Arteta’s late-summer hitlist.
Mikel Merino has informed his Real Sociedad bosses that he is keen to take up such an opportunity too.
He will not be extending a contract which is due to expire in 2025 – La Real president Jokin Apperibay has already indicated that he would rather sell now and risk losing the Spain international on a free – while Arsenal are expected to rubber-stamp an eventual fee in the region of £25 million.
“We are aware that Merino has offers, and we know them,” Apperibay told Mundo Deportivo last week.
“The conversation with him and those around him has been very sincere and hopefully his decision is to stay. He already knows that we want him to stay.
“He has had a renewal offer for some time. And if (he decides not to sign the contract), we will try to negotiate the best way out for Real.”
Arsenal lead race for Real Sociedad star Mikel Merino
Apperibay then added that Real Sociedad would aim to ‘look to the future’ should Merino depart. And the Basque outfit have done just that with the £8.5 million deal to bring in Luka Sucic from Red Bull Salzburg.
The so-called ‘new Luka Modric’ is seven years Merino’s junior at just 21. Sucic has reportedly been brought in to take his place, per Sport
And if that was one domino down, then a few more appeared to tumble on Tuesday.
Atletico Madrid have been linked pretty heavily with Merino too.
But with Fabrizio Romano reporting that Diego Simeone’s side are set to sign Conor Gallagher from Chelsea for £36 million, while bringing in Valencia schemer Javi Guerra for a further £21 million per The Athletic, it is probably safe to say that Arsenal will not be facing any late hijack from the Wanda Metropolitano.
Atletico are also signing Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez.
Barcelona appear to have removed their name from the Mikel Merino frame too.
New head coach Hansi Flick insists that he is happy with the midfield options currently at his disposal.
“We have several quality players in midfield,” the former Bayern Munich boss says, via Romano. “Some of them are injured now but they will be back.
“I think we are well covered in that position.”
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid back away
The same cannot really be said of Arsenal. At least, not in the left-sided midfield spot that Granit Xhaka once made his own before becoming a Bundesliga champion at Bayer Leverkusen.
Kai Havertz scored from a deeper role in a 2-1 pre-season defeat to Liverpool. Despite Arteta’s praise for the German’s performance, however, Havertz is clearly more effective when leading the line these days.
The Gunners also sold Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham last week, potentially with Merino’s likely arrival in mind.
Once of Newcastle United and Borussia Dortmund, the late-blooming Merino might not be the sort of marquee signing to get hairs standing on end.
But, labelled ‘world-class’ by Arsenal left-back and former La Real loanee Kieran Tierney, Merino would bring to The Emirates the sort of technical quality, physical power and box-crashing talents that departed with Xhaka during the summer of 2023.
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