After completing the long-awaited signing of Riccardo Calafiori on Monday, Arsenal will not be caught napping.
The Italy international is finally through the door, signing on the dotted line at the start of this week after The Gunners agreed an initial £42 million deal with Bologna.
Arsenal, desperate to evolve from their bridesmaids role and make 2025 their turn to walk down the aisle, are wasting no time turning their attention to the next name on their summer wishlist.
HITC understands that manager Mikel Arteta is a big fan of Real Sociedad playmaker Mikel Merino.
The late-blooming 28-year-old may feel he has unfinished business in the Premier League too, having only played 24 top-flight games for Newcastle United before moving on to the Anoeta back in 2018.
Described as a ‘world-class’ talent by Arsenal left-back and former Sociedad loanee Kieran Tierney, Merino has blossomed into one of Europe’s most underrated playmakers in recent seasons.
He scored a career-best eight goals last season to go with his five assists, also netting in that dramatic victory over Germany in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.
Furthermore, pulling the strings and breaking into the box from his left-sided midfield berth, Merino looks perfectly-suited to playing the role Granit Xhaka perfected under Arteta before his departure to Bayer Leverkusen a year ago.
Arsenal and Barcelona keen on £50m Mikel Merino
Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay, meanwhile, is fully aware of the interest in Merino.
A new contract has been offered too, in the hope that the one-time Borussia Dortmund prospect will extend a deal which currently runs until 2025.
“I don’t know. We are aware that Merino has offers, and we know them,” Apperibay tells Mundo Deportivo, insisting that a departure will be considered if that contract remains un-signed.
“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. Try to be stronger every year or every day. You don’t have to hide behind a contract when a player tells you that he wants to take advantage of an opportunity.
“Daily work makes us stronger.”
HITC understands that Arsenal – as well as long-time admirers Barcelona – have spoken to Merino’s camp.
Aperribay, however, insists that La Real are yet to hear from either club at this stage with Arsenal and co seemingly yet to commit themselves to triggering the £50 million release clause in Merino’s contract.
No Arsenal talks with Real Sociedad
“We are not in any conversation with any club to get any player to leave,” Apperibay adds. “We knew that the summer was going to be long and that is how it is going to be. We are going to manage during August. We will try to make the team come out stronger.
“I think that Merino has been honest with Real Sociedad during the last year. If he has not renewed, it is because he did not want to tell the fans ‘I’m staying’ and then leave.
“I would like him not to leave. If he tells us that he likes any of the offers he has on the table, we will see. We are not negotiating with any club now.”
The Basque outfit are determined to ensure that, if Merino does go, they are prepared for such an eventuality. Javi Guerra, the Valencia starlet, appears to have been lined up as a readymade replace,ent.
“There are times when bringing in someone helps you with the talent at home, and there are times when the talent is at home. We have to be calm. There are many players at Real,” Apperibay explains.
“There is no need to make decisions today. We do not need to be negotiating with any club. Real is preparing but not today. Real tries not to be reactive. We try to be prepared for any eventuality or setback.
“What will we do? We will see.”
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