Fabrizio Romano says all parties are optimistic over the Mikel Merino to Arsenal transfer saga as it’s advancing well and the player is confident he’ll be joining the Gunners before the end of the window.
Speaking exclusively to CaughtOffside for the latest edition of his Daily Briefing column, Romano provided his latest update on the Merino saga to explain why it’s been dragging on for some time.
Arsenal have been talking to Merino’s club Real Sociedad for nearly a month now, and he describes it as a verbal exchange to try to find the right structure of the deal for all parties, but it seems things are moving in a positive direction.
The transfer news expert insists the clubs are in frequent contact, so Merino expects he will eventually become an Arsenal player, and that other interested clubs like Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are aware of his decision.
The Spain international has impressed in his time in La Liga and also had some strong moments at Euro 2024 earlier this summer, picking up a winners’ medal for his efforts, so it would be exciting to see what he could do in the Premier League.
Merino transfer update from Fabrizio Romano
“Arsenal are in constant contact with Real Sociedad over the transfer of Mikel Merino. In football there are different kinds of negotiations – one year ago Arsenal made an official bid for Declan Rice and they got an answer, or there can be more of a verbal exchange club-to-club. This is what Arsenal did with Riccardo Calafiori, for example, so that’s why that also took a lot of time,” Romano said.
“So, talks are taking place, all parties are optimistic and Merino has been very clear on his plan to join Arsenal. It’s advancing well and there are no big issues now. It’s just about the deal structure with all parties working on it. Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are both informed on Merino’s plan to go to Arsenal.
“Arsenal have been talking with Sociedad for almost a month, but the plan is clear, with Merino keen to join Arsenal and having the desire to play for Mikel Arteta. It’s just about the clubs working together in a friendly way to find a solution, and the feeling is that Merino is really confident of becoming an Arsenal player in the final two weeks of the window.”
Was it such a long drawn out haggle when Arsenal let KT go on loan to Sociedad? Apparently no dictum of reciprocity between clubs in football.