Most reports suggest Arsenal is closer than ever to adding Mikel Merino to their squad this summer.
The midfielder has been followed by top clubs in Europe and must decide where his future lies.
Arsenal wants to win the race to sign him despite facing competition from Barcelona.
Merino seems to have given his entourage the go-ahead to seal a move to Arsenal, so it seems only a matter of time before the Gunners sign him.
Merino will be delighted to return to the Premier League, where he previously played for Newcastle United.
Arsenal is a much bigger club with a greater prospect of winning trophies, so moving to the Emirates would be a great career leap.
However, journalist Art De Roche reveals Arsenal is not as close to signing him as several reports suggest.
He said on The Athletic Podcast:
“Yeah, I think it makes sense. It doesn’t seem as though it’s as close at the minute as most reports would say.
“Looking from a stylistic point of view it helps having a midfielder playing in midfield. When Havertz joined last summer, talk was that he would play in that left eight role, but he just didn’t perform there.”
Just Arsenal Opinion
We know Merino is a sought-after player, and it will not be straightforward to sign him.
However, that does not mean that we are not the favourites to add him to our squad before this transfer window closes.
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Why not Fabian R. in the first place? The guy ticks all the boxes, trust me. Getting him should be easier now that psg got the Portuguese boy. And moreover, he’s played at the top level for sometime now.
There may be some hidden negotiations going on there or elsewhere. That’s why it took so long with Merino.
We’ll only know that Arsenal has actually got him – if they get him that is – when he’s photographed with Edu signing the contract.
This is, I think, a warning signal of sorts though as, for different reasons, Arsenal’s pursuit of Calafiori and now Merino have dragged on longer than most people would have thought.
I just hope that Edu and colleagues don’t leave any other transfers too long now – and too close to the end of the window. There can be, and often are, delays which could well scupper any potential deals as we get nearer to 31 August.
Oh come on, of all things fans don’t want a reality check during the transfer window. Even a brief hint that we don’t necessarily know what the heck is going on until contracts are signed just will not do.