Arsenal have opened initial talks with Real Sociedad to discuss a deal for midfielder Mikel Merino.
Merino has entered the final 12 months of his contract with the Spanish side and is open to leaving Sociedad this summer. Arsenal have held a long-term interest in Merino’s club teammate, Martin Zubimendi, but have pivoted towards Merino as a more attainable target.
Mikel Arteta is keen to bring in a central midfielder to complement Declan Rice and Merino’s availability for a fee in the region of €25m (£21m) represents attractive business for the Gunners.
Football Transfers are reporting that talks have taken place and developments are expected to accelerate once Spain’s campaign at Euro 2024 comes to an end.
The 28-year-old has made five appearances during La Roja’s run to the final, where Spain will face England in Berlin on Sunday.
Merino came off the bench to score a dramatic winner against Germany in the quarter-finals as the midfielder headed home a 119th-minute decider in extra-time.
The midfielder has won 27 caps for Spain and previously spent a single season in the Premier League at Newcastle in 2017-18 but struggled to make an impact.
