‘World class’ player won’t play for his club this weekend as Arsenal are so close to signing him

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal are getting their 2024/25 campaign underway on Saturday with a game on home soil against Wolves.

Mikel Arteta will be going into the game with just one new signing to show off to their home crowd in Riccardo Calafiori.

Edu Gaspar has been working hard to secure further additions for Arsenal over recent days but there won’t be any late arrivals in time for the game against Wolves.

Arsenal will be looking to make the perfect start this weekend with the Gunners all too aware of how close the Premier League title race can be.

However, Arsenal are now closing in on their second signing of the summer and the player looks set to miss the game with his current club this weekend.

• READ MORE: Newcastle decide how they will respond if Arsenal make bid for Bruno Guimaraes before deadline day

Arsenal now closing in on their second summer signing

Arsenal have now agreed terms with Real Sociedad for Mikel Merino with the midfielder now one step away from making the move to north London.

It is a case of quality over quantity for Arsenal in the transfer market and it looks like they’re about to land another one of their top targets.

According to Estadio Deportivo, a player is now set to be omitted from his club’s squad for their game on the weekend with Arsenal lurking.

• READ MORE: Fabrizio Romano says there will be a ‘significant’ exit update out of Arsenal over the next few days

It is believed the two clubs have now come to an agreement for Merino’s move to Arsenal which is worth in the region of £30m.

And given the development which has emerged on Friday, Merino is not expected to be part of Sociedad’s squad for the season opener against Rayo Vallecano.

This is a real indication of just how close a full completion of the deal between the two sides must be for Merino to be omitted from the squad.

Arsenal landing their top targets this summer

Landing Calafiori earlier this summer was a real coup for Arsenal with a number of Europe’s top clubs showing an interest in the centre-back.

And the Gunners are now looking to do exactly the same with the Spain international.

Merino has already rejected interest from Barcelona as he wants to join Arsenal before the deadline at the end of the month.

This is a player who has been hailed as ‘world class‘ and has told one of the biggest clubs in the world that he does not want to join them in favour of a move to Arsenal.

It is testament to the work that has been done in north London by Arteta.