Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal could announce the signing of Real Sociedad midfield star Mikel Merino in the next 24 hours.
According to a report from GiveMeSport, Arsenal are closing another major signing as Mikel Merino looks all set to sign for the club within the next 24 hours. The North London club have made significant progress in negotiations over the weekend and they are confident about completing his signing.
Merino’s future has been the talk of the town for a while now. While he has been an integral part of Real Sociedad’s first team for years, he might not be around after the end of the transfer window. With his contract at the Spanish club running out, his future has been a big talking point.
Sociedad have been ready to try everything in their power to keep him at the club but that is unlikely to help as Merino seems to have his heart set on a move away. He was absent from their opening league game of the season which suggests he might not be around for long.
Arsenal are one of the clubs that have been keeping a close eye on the Spanish international. After once again missing out on the league title, Mikel Arteta is keen on having more depth and quality. In order to further bolster his midfield, he wants a new partner for Declan Rice in the centre of the park to take things to the next level.
Arsenal closing in on Mikel Merino’s services
Merino has been Arsenal’s top target from the start and slowly they have been edging towards his signature. As per the report, they have made significant progress in talks with Sociedad over the weekend and now have an opportunity to complete his signing by the end of the day.
The Gunners could soon receive the green light from the Spanish club to complete the formalities and schedule a medical for the 28-year-old. They are not going to encounter any challenges from Merino’s end as the player is absolutely keen on the move.
While Sociedad’s initial demands of around £40 million were making things difficult for interested clubs, Arsenal’s waiting games seem to have forked and there is optimism that a deal can be struck for around £25 million with the deadline less than two weeks away.
