Real Sociedad and Arsenal are in negotiations over Mikel Merino, a midfield player from Spain.
Merino played in all seven of Spain’s tournament games and was a member of the squad that won Euro 2024. In the quarterfinal match against Germany, he scored a late goal.
With less than a year left on his contract, the 28-year-old may help Arsenal seal a deal by giving them the opportunity to talk to other teams about signing him in January on a free transfer.
Earlier this week, Martin Zubimendi, a teammate of Merino, turned down a transfer to Liverpool after Sociedad convinced him to stay.
After signing Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori earlier this summer, Arsenal would gain another formidable presence at set pieces if Merino joins the team. Merino is a 6′ 2″ central midfielder.
The Spaniard, who can play as a deeper-lying midfielder, is expected to enhance Declan Rice, who occasionally filled a “box-to-box” role during the previous campaign.
In the middle of the pitch, he would give Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta another option to compete alongside Rice, Jorginho, Thomas Partey, and Martin Odegaard.
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Prior to going to Spain in 2018, Merino played a season in the Premier League at Newcastle. In 2019–20, he was a teammate of Odegaard while the Norwegian was on loan at Sociedad from Real Madrid.
Last season, Merino made 45 appearances across all competitions and netted eight goals.
Arsenal has been active in the transfer market, bringing in money from both departing and incoming deals. Emile Smith Rowe was sold to Fulham for a possible £34 million, and Calafiori was brought in for a reported £42 million.
Eddie Nketiah, a striker, has an unclear future as well. The 25-year-old has drawn interest from Marseille, but no deal has been made. Bournemouth and Crystal Palace are also keeping an eye on him, but no offers have been placed.
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