Arsenal are currently in discussions with Real Sociedad regarding the potential signing of Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino. Merino, who was a part of Spain’s victorious Euro 2024 squad, played in all seven matches of the tournament and even scored a crucial late winner against Germany in the quarter-finals. With less than a year left on his contract, Arsenal may have an advantage in completing the deal, as Merino would be able to engage in negotiations with other clubs for a free transfer in January.
If the transfer goes through, Merino would bring his towering presence to Arsenal’s set pieces, joining the likes of Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori, whom the Gunners signed earlier in the summer. The versatile 28-year-old can operate as a deeper-lying midfielder, providing a complementary role to Declan Rice, who played a “box-to-box” role at times last season. This would give Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta another option to compete with the likes of Rice, Jorginho, Thomas Partey, and Martin Odegaard in the middle of the pitch.
Merino is no stranger to the Premier League, having spent a year at Newcastle before moving to Spain in 2018. Additionally, he has already played alongside Odegaard during the 2019-20 season when the Norwegian was on loan at Sociedad from Real Madrid. This existing familiarity between the two players could potentially enhance Arsenal’s midfield dynamics if Merino joins the club.
In the previous season, Merino made 45 appearances in all competitions for Real Sociedad, scoring eight goals. Arsenal has been active in the transfer market, making both incoming and outgoing moves. They sold Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham in a deal that could potentially reach £34 million and secured the signing of Calafiori for a fee around £42 million. The future of striker Eddie Nketiah at Arsenal is also uncertain, with interest from Marseille, Bournemouth, and Crystal Palace. However, as of now, no concrete offers have been made for the 25-year-old.
In conclusion, Arsenal’s talks with Real Sociedad over the signing of Mikel Merino could potentially strengthen their midfield options. Merino’s previous Premier League experience, alongside his compatibility with Odegaard, could provide a valuable addition to the Gunners’ squad. With Arsenal’s continued activity in the transfer market, both incoming and outgoing, it remains to be seen how their squad will shape up for the upcoming season.