Arsenal have just had their first bid rejected for ‘world class’ player who wants to join this summer

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Arsenal’s summer transfer window has taken a while to get going but it looks set for an exciting final two weeks.

Riccardo Calafiori has marked the only signing Arsenal have made this summer with Mikel Arteta being made to wait patiently.

To Arsenal’s defence, having finished so narrowly behind Manchester City last season there may not be a huge need to go wild this summer in the market.

However, others may also suggest that is exactly why Arsenal should be pushing their limits this summer given they are so close to dethroning City.

Negotiations to sign Calafiori went on for weeks with the Gunners forced to work on the specifics of the deal with Bologna to get their man.

And it seems as if Edu Gaspar could be set for another testing transfer battle with Arsenal’s first bid having now been rejected.

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Arsenal have just had bid for ‘world class’ midfielder rejected

Arsenal have identified Adrien Rabiot as a potential midfielder target this summer with the former Juventus midfielder now a free agent.

However, there is another player who has become the main target for Arteta over recent weeks on the back of Euro 20224.

According to journalist Yon Cuezva, Arsenal have now just seen a bid rejected for the Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino.

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Although the bid may have been rejected, it is not all doom and gloom for Arsenal with the report also stating Merino’s wish to join this summer.

Negotiations between the two clubs are still said to be open as Arsenal look to find a resolution by the end of the month.

Any move ahead of this weekend’s season opener is now pushing the deadline on Friday with the Gunners opening up their season on home soil.

Arsenal expected to continue pushing for Mikel Merino

Of course, Arsenal would have dreamed about seeing their first bid being accepted by Sociedad, but that is not how many transfer offers pan out.

Merino is a player who Arteta is really keen to bring to Arsenal this summer as the Spaniard pushes to sign his compatriot.

It has to be remembered that Merino currently only has 12 months remaining on his current deal with the La Liga outfit so a deal would likely be in Sociedad’s best interests.

Given Merino is not looking likely to follow in Martin Zubimendi’s footsteps of wanting to stay at the club, Arsenal will have a lot of confidence a deal could be finalised for the ‘world class‘ midfielder.