As Arsenal step up their pursuit of another big-money summer signing, one major domino appeared to fall on Friday.
HITC understands that – after securing the £34 million former Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori – Mikel Arteta’s Premier League hopefuls have agreed a four-year deal in principle for a man who may feel he has unfinished business in English football.
Mikel Merino had his moments in the black-and-white of Newcastle United – a strong start to life on Tyneside culminated in a fine headed winner against Crystal Palace early in 2017/18 – but it is in his native Spain where the Arsenal target really blossomed into one of the finest footballers in his position.
If you were to rank the most underrated footballers in Europe, Merino would surely be challenging for a place on the podium. Kieran Tierney, Arsenal left-back and former team-mate, goes as far as to label him ‘world-class’.
Arsenal close in on Real Sociedad ace Mikel Merino
Excelling in the sort of left-sided midfield role that Granit Xhaka made his own at Arsenal, the Real Sociedad schemer has excelled over the last six seasons in the Basque country.
He even ended the last campaign with a career-best eight goals, taking his box-crashing talents into the mainstream when he thundered in a trademark towering header to fire Spain past Germany at Euro 2024. Not merely a goalscorer, Merino is a creator too.
Only Antoine Griezmann bettered his tally of assists in the 2022/23 La Liga campaign.
And while Merino is older than the usual Arsenal target at 28, The Gunners obviously feel that the one-time Borussia Dortmund man is worth breaking tradition for.
According to HITC, Arteta is driving Arsenal’s pursuit. Merino has informed La Real that he wants to seal the move to North London – he will not be extending a contract that expires in 2025 – while Arsenal are expected to agree a fee in the £25 million mark.
Real Sociedad, meanwhile, have now confirmed the signing of a player Spanish publication Sport dub their ‘new Merino’.
“I am grateful to the club and all the people of Salzburg for what I have been able to experience,” Luka Sucic wrote on Instagram, giving wings by Red Bull and putting pen to paper at the Anoeta.
“It has been an incredible time and I have so many great memories, also because we have won an insane number of titles. I came to Salzburg as a boy and I leave as a man.
“Even though I am looking forward to joining my new club, it is very difficult at the moment to find the right words.”
La Liga side sign Merino replacement
Mikel Merino may be tasked with penning an emotional goodbye of his own in the coming days.
Real Sociedad have already confirmed that they would not stand in the long-serving midfielder’s way. This, after all, is the final summer in which La Real can hope to bring in a substantial sum for a footballer who will become a free-agent in less than 12 months’ time.
“We are aware that Merino has offers, and we know them,” president Jokin Apperibay told Mundo Deportivo this 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.
“What we think is that the club has to look to the future.”
In rising star Sucic, seven years Merino’s junior, Real Sociedad are doing just that.
Arsenal, meanwhile, fielded Kai Havertz in that left-sided midfield role in the 2-1 pre-season defeat by Liverpool in the USA. The German scored too, though the feeling persists that he is more effective at centre-forward.
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