Arsenal appear to have received the Mikel Merino transfer green light from Real Sociedad. The Gunners have been strongly linked to Merino over the last few weeks with a priority of Mikel Arteta and Edu being to sign a new midfielder, as football.london have reported for the last few months.
The 28-year-old was just one of the many options identified to strengthen Arsenal’s engine room with club teammate Martin Zubimendi as another. Amadou Onana and Douglas Luiz were Premier League proven stars of interest to the Gunners, but both players sealed summer moves elsewhere.
Alongside trying to welcome a new midfielder, parting ways with players already in that department looked set to occur. Thomas Partey was the name expected to exit, however Emile Smith Rowe is the member of Arteta’s squad on the move with a deal up to £35million finalised that will see him join Fulham, football.london understands.
The Ghana international could still be moved on, though it is very clear Merino is being brought in as a direct replacement for Smith Rowe. Reports in Italy have now claimed that a verbal agreement is close for Merino with £25.3million (€30m) as the package deal.
Atletico Madrid had also been linked to signing the Spain international but they now appear focused on Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher. With that in mind, their appears to be nothing stopping Arsenal signing Merino with Real Sociedad now seeming to give their final green light.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Spanish club have agreed to sign RB Leipzig midfielder Luka Sucic in a £12.6million (€15m) deal with medical tests taking place on Thursday. Romano specifically notes that the Croatia international is being brought in as a replacement for Merino.
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With Sociedad looking to have accepted Merino’s exit, all that is left for Arsenal to do is agree on a final fee as Merino has already agreed on personal terms. If the Gunners do end up paying in the region of £25million, it can certainly be considered an excellent deal pulled off by Edu yet again.
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