Arsenal discussions over ‘world-class’ target are now at ‘final stages’

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal are likely to be busy on the transfer front in the coming weeks as Mikel Arteta and Edu look to add to their squad.

The Gunners have made one senior signing this summer, bringing Italy star Riccardo Calafiori to the Emirates Stadium from Bologna.

If all goes well, it shouldn’t be long before Arsenal will get their second senior summer signing over the line.

On Friday afternoon, Fabrizio Romano shared the latest on the Gunners’ pursuit of a “world-class” player.

READ MORE: Victor Osimhen decides who he’d prefer to join out of Arsenal and Chelsea

Arsenal in ‘final stages’ of Mikel Merino talks

The player in question is Real Sociedad star Mikel Merino, whose prospective move to Arsenal seems to be on the right track.

Romano, taking to X, has claimed that Arsenal and Sociedad will be in contact again this weekend to try and get the Merino deal over the line.

The transfer insider reported that negotiations are at the “final stages” after the Gunners advanced in talks over a fortnight ago.

A fee between the two clubs has been “almost agreed”, with work being carried out on the structure of the deal and payment terms.

Merino ‘the type of midfielder Arteta would create in a lab’

Speculation involving Arsenal and Merino is mostly positive, and hopefully it will not be long before an agreement has been reached.

Merino’s contract expires next summer, which means Sociedad need to sell this summer if they are to receive adequate compensation for his services.

The 28-year-old is a “world-class” player who has helped both Sociedad and Spain to glory in recent years, and he would be a superb acquisition for Arsenal.

Merino has excelled with Spain throughout his career, winning Euro 2024, the Nations Cup and two Euros at age level.

He has also won a Spanish Cup with Sociedad and a German Cup with Borussia Dortmund, testament to his quality for club as well as for country.

In terms of his style of play, The Guardian recently published an article describing Merino as the ‘type of midfielder Arteta would create in a lab if given the chance.’