Arsenal tipped to seal deal for key £25m summer signing 'next week' as Mikel Arteta steps up recruitment drive

Earlier this week, Mikel Merino’s arrival at the Emirates was said to be imminent. It was reported the Arsenal had agreed a deal with Real Sociedad to bring the 28-year-old to N7 on a deal worth up to €30m (£25m) and the Gunners were ‘closing in’ on securing the midfielder’s signature.

However, the latest reports from Mundo Deportivo have refuted such claims and suggest that Arsenal have not even tabled a formal offer for the 28-year-old.

The midfielder was thought to be joining Riccardo Calafiori in becoming the two newest Gunners’ signings following the Italian’s Emirates arrival earlier this week. Attention was beginning to return to whether Arsenal would continue their hunt for a new striker but it would appear that Merino’s Premier League move is far from complete.

Merino currently has less than one year on his contract and has not accepted a renewal offer from the La Liga side. Arsenal have long been reported to be one of the clubs keen on signing the European Championship winner and the latest reports indicate that while the Gunners are ‘determined to go all in’ to bring him to north London, the Andalusian club are yet to have any knowledge of Edu Gaspar preparing an offer.

It’s reported that the north London side haven’t yet opened talks with Real Sociedad and while La Real are said to be waiting for Arsenal or another club to make an offer, there are doubts that any side will make a convincing bid before August 5th.

Atletico Madrid are the only club to have made an offer to Real Sociedad but Merino turned them down. The midfielder is yet to hold talks with his current side, who are aware his exit is ‘gaining strength’ but it is thought that developments could increase once he returns from vacation next week.

Merino has been with Real Sociedad since joining from Newcastle in 2018. He has gone on to make nearly 200 La Liga appearances, scoring 20 goals in the process. He also featured in Spain’s European Championship final win over England and, in the process, became one of 12 players to have won both youth and senior Euro titles.