The need to strengthen is therefore clear. Arsenal have already added Riccardo Calafiori to their backline and are close to completing a deal for Mikel Merino.
Mikel Merino is close to moving to Arsenal (Image credit: Getty Images)
Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo have detailed in their Basque section how the move for the midfielder is being “finalised”. Merino has been described as “elegant on and off the pitch,” apparently leaving Real Sociedad graciously.
Basque outlet Noticias de Gipuzkoa last week reported on terms being agreed between player and club, with just the fee to be decided. It appears as if Arsenal struck a breakthrough with Txuri-Urdin over the weekend.
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In FourFourTwo's view, Merino is a sensible signing as cover in midfield that we expect to be tied up by the Villa game – though we don't expect the Basque to be thrown in at the deep end and start that one. More signings are certainly dependent on the futures of Nelson and Nketiah, but the window may crank into life late on.
Eddie Nketiah may be sold this summer – or may not be (Image credit: Getty Images)
Even a loan for either would suffice. Given that Arsenal have Havertz as first-choice striker with Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard as options, however, we expect any new signing to be a tactically versatile forward able to operate on the flanks.
Transfermarkt currently values Merino at €50 million. His contract expires next summer.
Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.
