- Arsenal have been chasing Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino all summer
- The Gunners are close to finalising a deal with the Spanish star after further talks
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Arsenal are close to signing Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad after further talks on Wednesday night.
The Gunners have been chasing Merino, 28, all summer and an initial bid of £21.5m was rejected.
Merino, who previously played for Newcastle, helped Spain win Euro 2024 last month when the midfielder scored the winner in their 2-1 quarter-final victory over Germany.
The Real Sociedad star has played 242 times for the Basque club in the last six years, while he has also racked up 28 caps for La Roja.
Mail Sport reported last week that a £30m bid should be enough to sign the 28-year-old and Arsenal sporting director Edu has been in Spain to push negotiations forward.
Arsenal are closing in on Real Sociedad’s Mikel Merino after fresh talks on Wednesday
The 28-year-old midfielder Merino was part of the Spanish team that won Euro 2024 this summer
Merino has been a key target for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta all summer.
Merino, who has a year left on his contract, was left out of Real Sociedad’s squad for their opening LaLiga game against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, with Real Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil saying it was “the best solution” amid transfer speculation.
If the move goes through, Merino would become Arsenal’s second signing of the window following the £42m signing of Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna last month.
The completion of the Merino deal comes at a time when Arsenal are close to selling Eddie Nketiah to Nottingham Forest for £30m.
The Gunners academy graduate has scored 38 goals in 168 games for the club and Mail Sport reported on Monday how Arsenal had rejected Forest’s initial £25million offer.
Gunners striker Eddie Nketiah is also close to signing a £30million move to Nottingham Forest.
The striker was allowed to leave the Emirates after falling down the pecking order and saw his move to Marseille scuppered earlier this summer after the French side refused to meet Arsenal’s asking price.
Meanwhile, Gunners midfielder Charlie Patino is heading to Deportivo La Coruna for £1m plus a hefty sell-on clause.
