Arsenal get final green light for Mikel Merino as Edu closes in on £20m transfer

Arsenal have got the final green light to complete a swoop for Mikel Merino this summer. The Gunners are in the market for another midfielder and football.london understands Euro 2024 winner Merino is on their shopping list.

With the Riccardo Calafiori deal close to completion – and David Raya on board permanently – Edu and key figures behind the scenes are progressing with their plans to strengthen further up the pitch. Arsenal want another option in their engine room and a versatile forward to provide cover and competition.

Merino, 28, has spent the last six years with Real Sociedad. However, the former Newcastle United player only has 12 months left to run on his contract there with no sign of an extension forthcoming.

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Fabrizio Romano – via his latest Daily Briefing column – flags up ongoing interest from Arsenal in Merino and claims The Gunners are front-runners for his signature. Sociedad now consider the 28-cap Spain international ‘a lost cause’ and expect him to leave San Sebastian this summer.

A transfer fee around the £20million-mark has been mooted. Merino has totted-up 242 appearances for Sociedad, with 27 goals and 30 assists, having previously represented Osasuna, Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle before his €12million move from St. James’ Park to Sociedad in 2018.

Merino made seven appearances for Spain on La Roja’s way to Euro 2024 glory this summer. He even enjoyed a 90-second cameo in their final win over England.

Merino and his Sociedad team-mate Martin Zubimendi, who is also on radar for Arsenal this summer, play back-up to Rodri for Spain’s national team. However, the experienced and versatile Merino outperformed Manchester City’s talisman in one key metric last season as if to underline his potential worth.