Over the past week or so, the Spanish media, especially the sections closest to Real Sociedad, have been insisting that Arsenal are expected to make an offer for Mikel Merino.
On Tuesday, Noticias de Gipuzkoa reported it’s only a matter of time before Arsenal table the first bid to sign the midfielder.
Radio Marca journalist Yon Cuezva took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to provide a short but important update on this case.
He says Arsenal have opened ‘formal talks’ with the La Liga side over signing the 28-year-old this summer. The journalist adds La Real have also received a formal offer from the Gunners.
There’s no mention of the fee proposed by Mikel Arteta’s side, but it has been rejected by the Spanish club in the ‘last few hours’.
Merino has less than a year left on his deal and hasn’t accepted any renewal offer made so far.
According to Cuezva, the Spain international has given his approval to Arsenal and this may give them an upper hand in their negotiations with Real Sociedad, to try and lower the asking price.
Marca now back this up online, and say the clubs are currently ‘far apart’. That’s to be expected, and doesn’t suggest the move won’t happen.
Don’t be surprised if the clubs come to a compromise around €24-28m.
