August 17th 2024.
It seems that Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta, is determined to make a big signing for his team. His sights are set on Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad, and it looks like their efforts might finally be paying off. Merino was noticeably absent from his team's opening league game, hinting at a potential move to Arsenal.
Arteta had identified Merino as his top target to strengthen the midfield during the summer transfer window. However, negotiations with Real Sociedad have not been easy, despite the midfielder's impressive performance at Euro 2024. But recent reports suggest that both clubs have come to an agreement on a £30m deal, with hopes of finalizing the details over the weekend.
The news of Merino's absence from Real Sociedad's squad for their upcoming La Liga fixture against Rayo Vallecano is a positive sign for Arsenal. Although manager Imanol Alguacil stated that Merino was fit to play, he chose to leave him out as negotiations with Arsenal continue. Alguacil also confirmed that there are ongoing negotiations between the two clubs, and it remains to be seen if Merino will join Arsenal next week.
Arteta, on the other hand, remained tight-lipped when asked about the potential signing of Merino. He simply stated that he could not discuss other players, but did mention that their main focus is on improving their current squad before considering any other opportunities in the transfer market.
So far, Arsenal has only made two moves in the transfer window - Riccardo Calafiori's arrival from Bologna and David Raya's permanent move from Brentford. However, it seems that Arteta has not given up on strengthening his team and is still keeping a close eye on potential signings.
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