Arsenal are reportedly making strong progress in their efforts to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino and have nearly reached a verbal agreement with their Spanish counterparts.
Despite splashing out a club-record £105m on Declan Rice in 2023, Mikel Arteta has made it his mission to strengthen Arsenal's midfield ranks further ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
A new number six was initially thought to be on the Spaniard's agenda, and Merino's teammate Martin Zubimendi was a prime target amid rumours that his contract included a £51m release clause.
However, Zubimendi quickly quashed talk of an exit from Sociedad, while links with Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes led nowhere, and Amadou Onana and Douglas Luiz joined Aston Villa and Juventus respectively.
With Arsenal being repeatedly knocked back in their attempts to add to their defensive midfield ranks, the Gunners have now turned their attention to signing Merino, more of a box-to-box lynchpin than a holding enforcer.
Arsenal 'getting closer' to Merino agreement
The former Newcastle man has now entered the last 12 months of his contract with Sociedad, who are therefore expected to be receptive to bids this summer, and according to Fabrizio Romano, a transfer is now progressing nicely.
Romano states that the two sides are now advancing in talks over a deal that would see Merino join Arsenal for a fee in excess of €30m (£25.3m), and a verbal agreement is not too far away.
The Spain international - who was part of La Roja's Euro 2024-winning squad - is already said to have given the green light to the Gunners' contract proposal, as he is keen to make the switch to the Emirates.
Merino previously dabbled in Premier League football with Newcastle during the 2017-18 season, joining the Magpies on loan from Borussia Dortmund and joining permanently at the end of the campaign.
However, the Spaniard's £5.9m St James' Park transfer came just a few days before he was sold to Sociedad, where he has contributed 27 goals and 30 assists from 242 matches across all competitons.
Where could Merino fit in at Arsenal?
While Merino is not a total stranger to playing as a defensive midfielder, and has even been deployed as a centre-back on a handful of occasions, he is far more comfortable as a more advanced midfielder.
The 28-year-old should be employed in such a role in Arteta's 4-3-3, likely on the left-hand side of the midfield trident, a role where £105m man Rice excelled in the 2023-24 campaign.
As Rice helped out in attack more often, Jorginho and Thomas Partey would share the defensive midfield burden, but the former West Ham United captain will likely revert to his previous number six slot if Merino joins.
Jorginho and Partey would therefore play backup to the England international, although the latter could still leave before the summer transfer deadline, as his contract runs out in 2025 too.
Arsenal have already seen Mohamed Elneny leave as a free agent, while Albert Sambi Lokonga has joined Sevilla on loan and Emile Smith Rowe is on the cusp of a £34m switch to Fulham.
