Real Sociedad are willing to make a last-ditch attempt to keep Mikel Merino by offering the 28-year-old Arsenal target a new contract.
According to Noticias de Gipuzkoa, Real Sociedad are attempting to convince Mikel Merino to stay by offering him a bumper new contract. The midfielder is linked with Arsenal, and advanced talks are underway between the two clubs, as Real Sociedad’s late attempts might go in vain.
Real Sociedad want to keep Mikel Merino
Over the course of the summer window, reports have consistently mentioned Mikel Merino wanting to take up a new challenge. However, he is also not open to signing a new deal with Real Sociedad, having entered the final year of his contract, as an exit seemed imminent.
Furthermore, stories have indicated that Merino rejected overtures from Atletico Madrid, which also managed to sign his teammate Robin Le Normand. There is some clarity about Merino’s future, as he wants the Arsenal move and link up with Mikel Arteta at the Emirates.
Real Sociedad, having lost Le Normand, are on the verge of losing both their starting midfielders in Merino and Liverpool-linked Martin Zubimendi. About the latter, the Spanish outfit expect him to join the Merseysiders. But multiple layers of complications could still see him stay put, as there is a slight chance of that happening.
Now, Real Sociedad are willing to make a last-ditch attempt to keep Merino and Zubimendi at the club by offering them new bumper deals. Should they sign, the duo will surpass Mikel Oyarzabal as the club’s highest-paid star, although in the case of Merino, he might have made up his mind.
Arsenal favourites to land Merino
Arsenal are still a bit nervous about the Merino deal, especially after Liverpool’s swift interest in Zubimendi. The Gunners feared Sociedad might permanently close the door on the 28-year-old’s exit if they sell their other midfielder to the Merseysiders.
The Gunners are in advanced talks for Merino and could agree on terms with Real Sociedad soon enough. The midfielder, too, wants to join Arsenal this summer and could soon complete the formalities to arrive in north London as Arteta’s second senior signing after Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori.
