As per a recent update by Fabrizio Romano on the Here We Go podcast, Arsenal has been involved in negotiations for weeks and is making significant progress in their efforts to sign Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad. The talks are reportedly in a very advanced stage.
According to Romano, Arsenal and Real Sociedad have been in active and continuous talks about Merino for a few weeks now. Crucially, the player has already reached an agreement with Arsenal and is eager to move. Other interested clubs, like Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, have taken note of Merino’s decision and are aware that the midfielder has Arsenal as his top destination.
Because of his admiration for manager Mikel Arteta and the club’s technical project, Merino is reportedly eager to join Arsenal. He feels that Arteta’s coaching style perfectly complements his own skills, making Arsenal the ideal fit for the next phase of his career. At the moment, Arsenal and Real Sociedad are in contact and making progress, but some details need to be finalized, specifically regarding payment terms and the overall structure of the deal.
Though Merino’s absence from a pre-season friendly against Real Sociedad was attributed to fitness concerns rather than an impending transfer, there has been conjecture in recent days that Arsenal may be looking at other midfield options. The timing of Merino’s transfer to Arsenal, however, is still up for debate, according to the majority of sources.
