Every Arsenal fan’s focus returns to the transfer window following their side’s win on the opening day of the new Premier League season.
The Gunners picked up a comfortable 2-0 victory over Wolves at the Emirates. Goals from Kai Havertz and a Messi-esque strike from Bukayo Saka gave Mikel Arteta’s side all three points, and that was the perfect way to start the campaign.
Arsenal’s players will be focusing on their next game, a tough one away at Aston Villa, but people behind the scenes are working on a key transfer.
Fabrizio Romano has claimed in a video on his YouTube channel that the deal could be completed very, very soon.
Fabrizio Romano shares latest on Mikel Merino on Arsenal deal
Arsenal have been chasing Mikel Merino for over a month now.
The Gunners are a bit light in the middle of the park having lost Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham. Mohamed Elneny was also released in the summer, while Albert Sambi Lokonga was loaned out.
To add to that, Thomas Partey and Jorginho, as amazing as they are, are on the wrong side of 30 and aren’t getting any younger.
Arteta has been desperate for a new midfielder this summer, and Merino emerged as Arsenal’s top target.
After a lot of speculation, Arsenal had a bid rejected for Merino by Real Sociedad, but everyone predicted that they would go back in with an improved offer.
Romano revealed on Saturday that Arsenal and Sociedad had agreed on a basic fee for Merino. Now, he has claimed that the player has spoken to Arteta and the deal could be done in the coming hours.
He said: “Get ready, guys, because these could be important hours. My feeling, talking to my sources, is that could be something like 24-48 hours, but we are really at the final meters, at the final details of the Mikel Merino deal. The here we go to Arsenal is really, really close. We can say almost there.
“They are working on the final steps and then Mikel Merino will be a new Arsenal player. As I told you, there is already an agreement on the final fee ,they’re working, it’s already two-three weeks on the payment terms, the deal, structure, the add-ons. So, the details of the deal, but they’re getting closer on everything, even on the details.
“So, Mikel Merino is extremely close to becoming a new Arsenal player. He already had some conversations with Mikel Arteta. He can’t wait to play for Mikel Arteta, as I told you these weeks. Really similar to the Calafiori story. The player is super-attracted by the project, he believes that Arsenal is the perfect place to be and so, work in progress on this one.
“We are really at the final steps of the summer for Mikel Merino to go to Arsenal. The player (Merino) is not called up for the opening game in La Liga for Real Sociedad. Also, Imanol, the manager of Real Sociedad, confirmed that in this moment, it was better not to call the player because there are negotiations and the negotiations are with Arsenal. The negotiations are very advanced.
“The director of Arsenal, Edu, has been in Spain in recent days to advance on the deal. So getting definitely closer to the here we go for Mikel Merino.”
Arsenal vs Wolves showed why Arteta desperately needs Merino
Arsenal were comfortable for large parts of the game against Wolves at the Emirates and completely deserved to win the game.
However, there was a period in the second half where the visitors were all over the Gunners, who lost control in the middle of the park. Thomas Partey, who was excellent in the first half, made a few sloppy errors, and that could’ve proved costly.
That showed that even though the Ghana international is an amazing player and can be key for Arsenal this season, there are times when Arteta needs different options.
Merino, who is a ‘spectacular‘ player, will be that man, and if he arrives, we expect him to start alongside Declan Rice in the middle of the park in most games this season.
As for Partey, he is expected to be released by Arsenal at the end of the 2024/25 season.
