Arsenal are on the brink of securing their third major signing of the summer, fending off competition from Barcelona. The Gunners have already reached a personal terms agreement with the player and have submitted a verbal bid, putting them in an advantageous position.
This transfer window has already seen Arsenal make significant strides. Their first major acquisition was David Raya, who joined after a successful loan spell last season. The Spain international goalkeeper was brought in for £27m through an option to buy. Following Raya’s arrival, Arsenal added Riccardo Calafiori, who was signed from Bologna for around £42m. At just 22, Calafiori is set to strengthen an already formidable defense, primarily playing as a left-back and offering valuable cover at left centre-back.
But Arsenal’s spending isn’t stopping there. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has reported that the club is keen on signing Mikel Merino, especially after Emile Smith Rowe’s recent move to Fulham. Smith Rowe’s £27m plus £7m in add-ons departure has brought in pure profit for Arsenal, with a sell-on clause also included.
Merino, the 28-year-old Real Sociedad and Spain midfielder, has been the focus of attention. Despite Barcelona’s interest in Merino, Arsenal appear to have won the race for his signature. Merino, with 28 caps for Spain since his debut in 2020, seemed poised to join one of Spain’s top clubs, but it seems he is inclined to move to Arsenal instead.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Merino appears to have chosen Arsenal, much to Barcelona’s disappointment. Reports from Basque outlet Noticias de Gipuzkoa also suggest that Merino to Arsenal is essentially a done deal. Real Sociedad initially sought around €50m/£43m for the midfielder, but with Merino entering the final year of his contract, the price has been lowered. Arsenal have reportedly made a verbal offer of €30m/£26m, with additional add-ons possibly factored in. Both Spanish reports and Fabrizio Romano have confirmed this offer.
Romano has emphasized that the deal is “very, very close,” with Arsenal and Real Sociedad nearing a club-to-club agreement. He notes that while the exact structure of the deal is still being finalized, everything is progressing smoothly.
In summary, Merino’s preference for Arsenal, Barcelona’s shifting focus, agreed personal terms, Real Sociedad’s willingness to sell, and the discounted fee indicate that Arsenal are in an excellent position to complete this signing. TEAMtalk’s Ryan Baldi will further analyze how Merino will fit into Mikel Arteta’s plans and what he brings to the team.
Leave a Reply