At the weekend, Estadio Deportivo insisted that Arsenal have put an end to their pursuit of Mikel Merino. This was reported because the Premier League side haven’t presented an official offer to Real Sociedad so far.
Sport now claim Arsenal are still chasing the midfielder, who has to sort out his future at the La Liga side.
The Spain international’s deal lasts until 2025 and a renewal looks difficult.
Merino ‘has a proposal from Arsenal’ and has attracted interest from Barcelona. There’s no mention if Mikel Arteta’s side have made an offer to the San Sebastian club to sign the 28-year-old this summer.
Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay claims he’s hopeful of retaining the Euro 2024 winner beyond this window. At the same time, he’s ready to sell the player if he were to request a transfer.
“I think Mikel has been very sincere with Real. He has had a renewal offer for a year and if he has not renewed it is because he did not want to tell the Real fans that I am staying and then leave, and I think that speaks well of him,” he said.
“I would like him not to leave, we would all like that, but if he tells us that he accepts any of the offers he has on the table and wants us to negotiate, we will do it. We know he has them, and we also know them. But at this moment we continue to hope that Mikel Merino will continue at Real.
“We would like it to be his decision but, if it is not, we will try to negotiate his best exit from Real.”
It’s to be noted Aperribay mentioned the former Newcastle United man is handling offers, but he hasn’t specified Arsenal. This information is provided by the Catalan newspaper.
Tuesday’s edition of Sport claims Merino has prioritised Barca, and has been willing to wait for them. The newspaper adds the Catalan club have ‘decided to cool’ the option to sign him, unless they were to sell one of their own midfielders.
Therefore, the Spaniard has ‘everything in place’ to join Arsenal or sign a new deal at Real Sociedad.
