Arsenal have been looking to land EURO 2024 winner Mikel Merino in the ongoing summer transfer window as the Gunners compound their interest in signing the 28-year-old ahead of Atletico Madrid and Barcelona.
Gunners shift focus from defensive midfielder to a box-to-box option
The North Londoners are in the market for a new midfielder this summer as they look to increase the depth and raise the floor in the middle of the park. Initially, the club wanted to bring in a more athletic and physical profile capable of playing in the defensive midfield role. However, with the exit-bound Thomas Partey set to continue at London Colney, the Gunners will pivot from their initial need of a DM to signing a player who can feature in the eight role.
This pushed Mikel Arteta to consider Mikel Merino, who comes on back of an excellent season at Real Sociedad and Spain. However, La Liga duo Atletico Madrid and Barcelona have been circling the players’s signatures.
Arsenal frontrunners to land Euro winner Mikel Merino
Atletico Madrid put in a formal approach for the player; however, the 28-year-old rejected the opportunity to move to the Spanish capital as he couldn’t connect with the project presented by Diego Simeone’s side.
Now, this leaves Arsenal and Barcelona in the race.
Barcelona are still suffering from a financial hurdle to land players this summer, and it’s difficult to see if they can accommodate another transfer without a significant sale. That is what journalist Jordi Gil suggests as well; he insists that any move to Barcelona could only be possible if De Jong leaves Camp Nou this summer.
The Sport.es journalist also states that “everything points to Merino becoming an Arsenal player.”
🚨Everything points to Merino becoming an Arsenal player. Barca can only sign him if Frenkie De Jong leaves
(@Jordigil ) pic.twitter.com/liFnow4QR9
— Doc (@karthikadhaigal) July 24, 2024
At the moment, Arsenal look favorites to land Merino, as he rejects another contract offer from Real Sociedad with a summer transfer looming around the corner. Real Sociedad are looking at a potential £25 million fee to sanction a transfer for the 28-year-old.
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