BREAKING NEWS:Arsenal has finalized the signing of a £43 million playmaker after both clubs reached an agreement last night. The player will don the jersey number previously held by Smith Rowe. It’s official—welcome to the Emirates!

Arsenal is highly interested in acquiring Real Sociedad’s star midfielder, Mikel Merino, as their top transfer target, according to reports from Mundo Deportivo (Gipuzkoa edition). Although Arsenal has reportedly made a verbal offer of £26 million for Merino, a formal bid has yet to be placed.

The Gunners are reportedly “prepared to go all out” to secure the Spain international, but as of now, Real Sociedad has not received an official offer from Arsenal. Interestingly, Atletico Madrid is the only club that has formally approached Merino with an offer, which he declined.

Despite the lack of a formal bid, there are strong indications that Arsenal may soon finalize the signing of Merino. The club has already reached an agreement on personal terms with the midfielder, laying the groundwork for a long-term contract.

Furthermore, Real Sociedad’s recent signing of Luka Susic from Red Bull Salzburg, a left-footed central midfielder, hints that the Spanish club may be preparing for Merino’s potential departure.

Arsenal is known for concentrating on one transfer at a time, and with the recent completion of Emile Smith Rowe’s move to Fulham, their focus might now shift entirely to securing Merino. The midfielder has been praised by Kieran Tierney as a “world-class” player, particularly for his defensive prowess and creativity on the field.

Merino, who was part of Spain’s Euro 2024-winning squad, had a standout season in La Liga, demonstrating his all-around capabilities. He averaged 10.2 duels won, 6.2 recoveries, 2.4 tackles, and nearly two clearances per game, while also contributing 13 goals.

These impressive stats underscore his versatility and make him an ideal signing for Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, who is looking to bolster the team’s midfield options.

With Merino’s defensive skills, creativity, and goal-scoring ability, he appears to be a perfect fit for Arsenal as they aim to strengthen their squad and compete at the highest level.

The coming weeks could see Arsenal intensify their efforts to bring the Spanish midfielder to the Emirates Stadium, reinforcing their ambitions under Arteta’s leadership.