In the latest transfer news, Arsenal is said to be getting closer to securing the signing of Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino. The Gunners have already made two additions this summer, including making David Raya’s loan deal permanent and securing Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna for £42m.
Now, Arsenal is focusing on strengthening their midfield and is in talks to bring in Merino from Real Sociedad. The report suggests that Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay has flown to London to negotiate the deal, with the Spanish club looking to secure £30m plus add-ons for the player.
Merino, who joined Real Sociedad in 2018 from Newcastle United, has expressed his desire to move to Arsenal before the transfer deadline. With negotiations progressing well, Merino was left out of Real Sociedad’s recent match and is currently training separately from his teammates.
If the deal goes through, Merino is expected to compete for a spot in Arsenal’s midfield alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard. This could potentially push Jorginho and Thomas Partey down the pecking order, leading to speculation about Partey’s future at the club. However, Partey’s recent start in Arsenal’s win over Wolverhampton Wanderers suggests he could still play a significant role for manager Mikel Arteta.
Depending on the outcome of the Merino deal, Partey may feature in Arsenal’s upcoming match against Aston Villa, who are managed by former Arsenal boss Unai Emery. It remains to be seen how Merino’s potential arrival will impact Arsenal’s midfield dynamic and squad selection moving forward.
