Arsenal is preparing a new and improved offer to sign Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad and end a saga that has dragged on for some time.
The Gunners remain keen on the Spanish midfielder and have been trying to add him to their squad for weeks.
Initially being reluctant to sell, Sociedad is not making it easy for Mikel Arteta’s side, and Arsenal will need to pay up to secure his signature.
Their initial offer of £21.5 million was rejected as it did not meet Sociedad’s valuation.
Sociedad is demanding more, and Arsenal is determined not to back out at this stage, so they are preparing to return with a much-improved bid.
According to a report in the Daily Mail, Mikel Arteta’s side is set to offer £30 million in their next bid to finalise the deal as quickly as possible.
Ideally, Arsenal would have wanted him in their squad before the Premier League opener, but that hasn’t happened. Now, they are focused on bringing him in before the transfer window closes.
Just Arsenal Opinion
We have been looking to sign Merino for much of this summer and have to complete the transfer as soon as possible.
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Is this really going to be the end of it?! Or were we waiting for another option? Younger or cheaper, for example.
Perhaps we should start a collection among Arsenal fans to raise the money so we can get this over with?
Arsenal reportedly agreed terms with Merino weeks ago now but have only recently put in an opening bid. One wonders why, but never mind. Apparently, things have got so bogged down that Edu has seemingly had to fly to Spain to try and get the deal over the line.
If/when he signs, Merino will have missed the start of the PL season of course, something which, as the article suggests, Arteta/Arsenal wanted to avoid. And the thing is, there’s possibly another player to bring in and certainly several left to offload yet with only two weeks left in the window.
If or when we sign this guy he’d better be worth it !!
At 28, less than 12 months left, I’m not sure he’s worth the 30m valuation. There are younger and better options for not much valuations. VITINHA of PSG for example.
Possibly, but it seems that Merino is the one that Arteta/Edu really (really) want and after all this faffing around he is probably going to be the one they get. Real Sociedad know this of course so they can afford to play a little “hard ball” over the price as it’s unlikely Arsenal would be able to get any alternative deal over the line before the transfer deadline.
too old too slow pity top class striker and the league would have been ours
Usual team has been announced