Arsenal risk Mikel Merino transfer blowing up in their face as 'frustration' spills over
Arsenal appear at risk of scuppering their own pursuit of Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino as the transfer saga drags on. The Euro 2024 winner seemed destined for the Emirates on Saturday when it was confirmed he was being left out of his club’s opening La Liga match with Rayo Vallecano.
Coach Imanol Alguacil admitted his decision was due to Merino being in talks with ‘another club’, with the two parties having reportedly agreed personal terms.
But on Tuesday it emerged a £30million bid from the Gunners had been rejected, with the Spaniards said to want closer to £35m.
Related articles Arsenal plan for Merino’s debut after Arteta’s request to ensure he's ready Arsenal fans all saying the same thing after Sociedad reject £30m bid for MerinoNegotiations have since continued, with Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay flying to London today (Wednesday) in an attempt to persuade Arsenal to meet their asking price. That followed the Premier League club’s sporting director, Edu, travelling to Spain to help instigate the transfer.
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Widespread reports have emerged of Arsenal chiefs growing frustrated over the prolonged saga. Indeed, club fans have been vociferous in urging Edu and Arteta to move on to other targets, rather than waste precious time with the summer transfer window closing on August 30.
Merino celebrates Spain winning Euro 2024. (Image: Getty) Sky Sports, UHD, Sky Stream, Sky TV and Netflix £52 £43 View DealSky has slashed the price of its Sky Sports, Sky Stream, Sky TV and Netflix bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £216 and includes 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
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Sociedad bosses could harden their stance on the transfer upon hearing that their Arsenal counterparts are leaking their frustrations. Aperribay and co will be well aware of Arsenal’s desire to finalise their squad for the 2024/25 season as they bid to finally overhaul Manchester City in the title race, and are currently not obliged to sell Merino.
He does have a release clause of £56million, although has already entered the final 12 months of his contract. So despite the risk of losing him for free next summer, the Spaniards appear happy to play hardball in order to get as big a fee as possible.
According to Give Me Sport, Arsenal remain confident that a deal will be completed. Merino would be Arteta’s third signing of the summer, after David Raya made his loan switch from Brentford permanent and Riccardo Calafiori arrived from Bologna.
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The manager has thus far refused to comment on proceedings. Speaking ahead of the 2-0 win over Wolves on Saturday, he insisted his main focus was on his current squad and not potential signings.
“Before the season we had two objectives,” he said. “The main one was to make sure that we are very much in love with our players and find ways to improve them because that’s the main thing.”
Arsenal risk Mikel Merino transfer blowing up in their face as 'frustration' spills over
Arsenal risk Mikel Merino transfer blowing up in their face as 'frustration' spills over
Arsenal risk Mikel Merino transfer blowing up in their face as 'frustration' spills over
Arsenal risk Mikel Merino transfer blowing up in their face as 'frustration' spills over
Arsenal risk Mikel Merino transfer blowing up in their face as 'frustration' spills over
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