Arsenal may have made a proposal to Mikel Merino ahead of a possible move ahead of this summer, with Barcelona links currently weakening.
According to Sport, Mikel Merino may have received an offer from Arsenal for a move to the Emirates this season. Real Sociedad may concede their chances of keeping the midfielder, although Barcelona may have bowed out of the race for the 28-year-old.
Arsenal make Mikel Merino offer
Mikel Arteta will be delighted at the sight of Riccardo Calafiori’s arrival at training on Monday after Arsenal completed a move for the Italian defender on Monday. The Gunners boss has identified the left-hand side of the pitch as the key area that needs improvements and will now target a left-sided midfielder.
Arsenal were ready to step up their interest in Mikel Merino, with Arteta personally convinced the Real Sociedad star is the one for his team. There are some complications with this transfer, amid some concrete interest from within Spain, although the Gunners may have sounded out about a move.
For Arsenal, the move makes complete sense, as they may not seek a younger midfielder in that position. Arteta wants Merino’s experience to propel their chances of winning the Premier League in the coming season. At the same time, this idea also allows him to blood some promising young midfielders like Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly for the future.
Real Sociedad’s President Jokin Apperibay claimed the 28-year-old Euro 2024 winner may have had offers on his table. Arsenal are believed to be one of the sides who might have made a straight proposal to the player’s camp, and will he hoping to get an answer soon.
Apperibay said, “I would like him not to leave, we all would, but if he tells us that he accepts one of the offers he has on the table and wants us to negotiate, we will do so . We know he has them, and we also know them. But at the moment we continue to hope that Mikel Merino stays at Real.”
Barcelona out of Mikel Merino’s chase
Barcelona had maintained an interest in Merino for all this while but have put the move on the backburner as they have other priorities to fulfil as things stand. The Blaugrana are trying to raise funds to sign Nico Williams and Dani Olmo on priority, which will see their chase for the Real Sociedad star weakened.
Barcelona’s absence from the race does give Arsenal a much bigger chance to sign Merino, although they are keeping their options open. Arteta also likes Fabian Ruiz, who also has an opportunity to move clubs this summer, having played a starring role for Spain during their triumphant Euro 2024 campaign.
