European club have just offered ‘world-class’ Arsenal target the best contract offer of his life

Add as preferred source on Google

Although Arsenal seem to be close to completing a deal for Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori, they face tough competition to land targets elsewhere.

Once Calafiori has signed, Arsenal are still expected to chase three more signings this summer in order to better Mikel Arteta’s squad.

Edu has been tasked with improving Arsenal’s squad depth, which was ultimately deemed to be inferior to Manchester City’s last season.

And in order to break Pep Guardiola’s dominance of the Premier League, Arteta has seemingly decided that he needs to be able to rotate his squad more.

With that in mind, Arsenal seem to be primarily targeting Real Sociedad’s Mikel Merino and Athletic Club’s Nico Williams – two players who shone during Spain’s success at the Euros.

And although Williams doesn’t seem keen on joining Arsenal, Merino seems to have been more receptive to Arsenal’s interest.

Arsenal are in contact to sign Merino, but according to local Spanish source El Desmarque, Real Sociedad haven’t given up on keeping their star midfielder. 

Real Sociedad want to make Mikel Merino a top earner amid Arsenal interest

The report confirms that Arsenal are the best placed club to sign Merino right now, however they also state that Sociedad are reluctant to lose Merino.

Merino is now entering the last year of his contract with the San Sebastian club, something that must give confidence to the Gunners.

However, aware of the clubs circling around Merino this summer, Sociedad are said to have made one ‘final offensive’.

The side have made Merino a contract renewal offer that would make him among the highest earners at the club alongside Mikel Oyarzabal, who scored Spain’s recent winner against England.

READ MORE: Neymar leaves wordless reaction after seeing what Gabriel Jesus has done for Arsenal in pre-season

Right now, Merino is said to earn around £40k-a-week at Sociedad, perhaps a figure that could even be close to doubled.

Of course, if Arsenal were to have a bid accepted, they would surely also be able to blow that current salary out of the water, especially for a player of his experience, one ready to contribute his prime years.

In truth, Merino does appear the perfect profile to improve Arsenal’s midfield.

Merino can be Arsenal’s new Granit Xhaka in a sense, allowing Declan Rice to move into a number six position.

Of course, given the offers the ‘world-class’ Spaniard could have on the table this summer, Merino’s recent comments about being an ‘adventurer’ are now very interesting.