Mikel Merino to Arsenal: Gunners plot further transfer talks in bid to strike Real Sociedad deal

Arsenal and Real Sociedad will hold further talks this week as they try to come to an agreement over a deal for Mikel Merino.

The Spain midfielder was left out of the squad for Real Sociedad’s opening game of the new LaLiga season against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday night due to ongoing negotiations with Arsenal.

Merino was willing to play, but Sociedad boss Imanol Alguacil decided on Saturday that it was best for all parties if he was left out.

Arsenal and Sociedad are progressing in talks, and there will be more meetings over the coming days.

“Last week we had a meeting with Arsenal, on Saturday we had another conversation and we haven’t had any more,” Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay said on Monday afternoon.

“We will have one this week and we will see how the conversations progress. We are going to defend the interests of Real and, when we consider that the operation is the right one for the interests of Real, we will say yes, but not before then.

“Mikel feels very much like a Real fan, but he told us that, if a Premier League team came, he wanted to fulfil his dream of returning to the Premier League and trying to be successful and that, if not, we would talk about renewing.

“When I was in Japan [for Sociedad’s pre-season tour], [Sociedad sporting director] Roberto (Olabe) called me to tell me that Arsenal had called us and from that conversation we knew that Mikel was going to say yes to Arsenal. We would have liked him not to have come or to have done it earlier.”

The Gunners want to sign a midfielder before the transfer window closes next week and reports in Spain say that a deal for Merino could be done for £25million to £30m.

The 28-year-old is Arsenal’s preferred midfield target and he excelled for Spain at Euro 2024, featuring in every game as they beat England in the final.

Arsenal’s interest in Merino dates back to before then, though, and he would most likely play as a No8 alongside Martin Odegaard.

The Arsenal captain and Merino know each other after playing together at Sociedad during the 2019/20 season, when Odegaard was on loan from Real Madrid.

Sociedad have had a difficult transfer window after losing centre-back Robin Le Normand to Atletico Madrid.

Martin Zubimendi almost joined Liverpool earlier this month and that has added to the disruption. They kicked off their season with a defeat to Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, losing 2-1 at home.

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“It has not been complicated at all, it is what happens every year, to all coaches, clubs and sporting directors,” said Alguacil.

“Every summer there is movement. Merino and Le Normand? There are no two players like them. And I won’t even tell you if Zubimendi leaves us at the last minute. They are irreplaceable players.

“Because of what they have done, we are talking about Le Normand leaving, Arsenal want Merino and Liverpool were willing to pay the release clause for Zubimendi.

“But we cannot always look for an excuse when Merino and Le Normand are not there if things don’t work out for us.”