Mikel Merino to Arsenal transfer takes huge step forward as £30m agreement edges closer

Arsenal look to have been handed the final green light to agree a deal with Real Sociedad for the transfer of Mikel Merino. Talks between the two parties have stepped up in recent days with the Spanish club's president Jokin Aperribay said to have flown into London to wrap up the deal.

With a significant amount ongoing in the background, football.london understands Merino has been training away from the Sociedad squad. Though a full agreement is yet to be reached, those two updates suggest it is getting much closer with his current club wanting €35million plus €5million in add-ons (£29.9million plus £4.3million) to sanction the move.

Alongside Merino, Arsenal are in talks with both Wolves and Nottingham Forest regarding Aaron Ramsdale and Eddie Nketiah, respectively. A loan move for Ramsdale is being explored by those at Molineux, though the Gunners would prefer a permanent departure.

If Ramsdale does instead depart permanently, Espanyol's Joan Garcia is expected to arrive as his replacement with the goalkeeper waiting for Arsenal. As for Nketiah, Forest have already seen a £25million bid rejected, however talks have since continued.

Feyenoord's Santiago Gimenez is an alternative for Forest with two proposals launched to bring him over from the Netherlands. However, it looks as though Forest have decided to pursue Nketiah with the Athletic reporting the two parties are close to agreeing a fee with progress also made in conversations over personal terms.

As that agreement edges closer, Arsenal can finally sanction the arrival of Merino given the club's new transfer policy. Delays over a deal for Riccardo Calafiori as Edu and Mikel Arteta waited to seal Emile Smith Rowe's departure from Emirates Stadium by joining Fulham.

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With another homegrown departure getting much closer, Arsenal can offset the arrival of Merino through the exit of Nketiah. The fees involved are also very similar which will certainly make the Gunners feel as though Merino, while not positionally, is a direct replacement for Nketiah in the squad.