Arsenal are putting the final touches on a £25million transfer that will take Real Sociedad and Spain midfielder Mikel Merino to the Emirates. Mikel Arteta will hope that he can be the perfect compliment to Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, the latter of which could hand over his shirt number to the new signing.
Since returning to Spain following a single season at Newcastle, Merino has worn the number eight on his back. It is the same number he wore during his breakout season at Osasuna and he also donned No.8 for Spain Under-21s and the Spanish Olympic team in Tokyo.
However, since signing on a permanent transfer Odegaard has worn the number eight. His influence has grown throughout his time in north London and now stands as captain, perhaps the most unlikely player to be stripped of their squad number.
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However, Emile Smith Rowe’s imminent departure to Fulham for a potential £35m could pave the way for both Odegaard and Merino to get exactly what they desire. Arsenal have the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone thanks to Smith Rowe’s sale.
Upon joining Fulham, the midfielder leaves behind the vacant No.10. Football.London claim that when Odegaard was initially negotiating his permanent move from Real Madrid to Arsenal, he wanted to wear that same jersey.
It was possessed by Mesut Ozil at the time and then taken up by Smith Rowe, but now Odegaard has the opportunity to finally take up the shirt number most often identified with a playmaker such as the Norwegian.
And in doing so, Merino can promptly continue to wear the number eight he has worn to such success at Sociedad.
The 28-year-old could join a long list of successful Arsenal players to wear the same shirt, including his potential boss Arteta, in addition to Freddie Ljunberg, Aaron Ramsey and Ray Parlour.
Arsenal identified the need for another midfielder after struggling to complete a trio with Rice and Odegaard throughout the previous campaign. Thomas Partey, Jorginho and Kai Havertz were all tried with some success, but a long-term plan could come to fruition with Merino viewed as the ideal final piece of the jigsaw.
He is set to follow versatile Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori as the second new name to Arsenal this summer, though the Gunners have also made David Raya’s deal permanent after a successful year on loan from Brentford.
And Arsenal could move quickly to help their third summer signing settle in with a welcome present, awarding Odegaard his desired shirt number in the process, to begin the new season on a positive note.
