According to recent reports, Arsenal’s negotiations to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino are underway and have progressed to a very advanced stage. Renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano gave an update on Arsenal’s pursuit of the Spanish international on Saturday’s episode of the *Here We Go* podcast.
Romano disclosed that Arsenal and Real Sociedad had started talking a few weeks prior and have been in constant communication ever since. He declared that Merino has already reached a personal agreement with Arsenal and is eager to join the North London team. Merino has expressed his preference to join Arsenal over major clubs like Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, despite their interest.
According to reports, Merino and Arsenal are finalizing their contract, and the player is especially excited about the chance to work with Mikel Arteta. Merino feels that the technical project at Arsenal and Arteta’s coaching philosophy are a perfect fit for his goals and skill set.
Even though Arsenal and Real Sociedad are in a more advanced stage of their talks, there are still a few details that need to be worked out, especially in regards to the terms of payment and the deal’s overall structure. Romano stressed that although the deal is nearing completion, more work needs to be done before it can be signed off on.
Arsenal may be considering alternatives to Merino, according to recent rumors, and his recent absence from Real Sociedad’s preseason friendly was due to fitness issues rather than a potential transfer. The majority of sources now concur that Merino will most likely join Arsenal; the only remaining question is when the deal will be finalized.
