Arsenal’s midfield ambitions are taking shape with the agreement for Mikel Merino, a surprising turn regarding Zubimendi, and a potential call for Partey, creating a vision for an ideal midfield following three key transactions.
As the transfer window progresses, Arsenal remains poised to enhance their midfield, with potential player departures also on the horizon before the August 30 deadline.
Despite being linked to several midfielders this summer, Arsenal has yet to finalize any signings.
According to football.london, Mikel Arteta and Edu are eager to bolster this area of the squad before the transfer window closes.
So far, only David Raya and Riccardo Calafiori have joined the ranks, and it seems unlikely that a third addition will be made prior to the Premier League match against Wolves on Saturday.
Looking ahead to the summer, Edu may be planning for both incoming and outgoing transfers. With this perspective, football.london has outlined what an ideal Arsenal midfield could resemble after the summer transfer window concludes.
Agreement reached for Mikel Merino.
Arsenal has set its sights on Real Sociedad’s Mikel Merino, with discussions reportedly underway for the 28-year-old midfielder.
Given that he has just one year left on his contract, he could be available at a favorable price this summer.
The former Newcastle player participated in all seven of Spain’s matches during Euro 2024, notably scoring a dramatic last-minute goal against Germany in the quarter-finals.
However, negotiations for his transfer have proven to be complicated, as Real Sociedad appears unwilling to let their key player go for a low price.
“I would prefer that he stays, as would everyone else, but if he informs us that he is considering one of the offers he has received and wishes for us to negotiate, we will proceed accordingly,” stated Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay regarding Merino earlier this summer.
“We are aware of the offers he has, and we are familiar with them. For now, we remain hopeful that Mikel Merino will continue with Real.”
Arsenal is ideally looking to finalize a transfer fee with the Spanish club for Merino in the upcoming days, allowing him to participate in their second match of the season against Aston Villa. He would likely complement Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard well, making the transfer beneficial for all parties involved.
Regarding potential departures, Thomas Partey and Jorginho are two current Arsenal players who may soon leave the Emirates Stadium. Partey, who joined the Gunners in 2020 from Atletico Madrid, has been a solid contributor under Arteta, despite facing several injury challenges.
Jorginho, who transferred from Chelsea last January for £12 million, has brought both quality and experience to the Arsenal squad. However, with both players’ contracts set to expire next summer, their futures are now under scrutiny.
At the beginning of the transfer window, there were strong indications that Partey might leave, but those speculations have subsided for the time being.
The Ghanaian midfielder, similar to Jorginho, has less than a year left on his contract, and it remains possible that one of them could exit this summer.
While this scenario seems unlikely, it is still a distinct possibility that both players may depart when their contracts conclude next year.
It is essential for discussions to take place soon, as Arsenal would prefer to avoid a challenging situation as they approach the 2025/26 season.
Regarding Martin Zubimendi, he has been frequently associated with a transfer to Arsenal.
The Real Sociedad defensive midfielder was on the verge of joining Liverpool last week but opted to stay with his childhood club instead.
This decision could prove advantageous for Arsenal. Should either Partey or Jorginho leave next summer, a replacement will be necessary, and Zubimendi would be an excellent choice.
In the coming weeks, one of Edu’s key focuses may be to strategize for next year, potentially leading to negotiations with Sociedad for Zubimendi’s transfer to north London next summer. It’s a possibility worth considering.
Charlie Patino is another player whose prominence has diminished in recent years.
The 20-year-old made his senior debut for Arsenal in a 5-1 EFL Cup quarter-final win against Sunderland in 2021, scoring the final goal shortly after coming on for fellow academy product Emile Smith Rowe.
However, his career with the Gunners has not progressed similarly since then.
With only one year left on his contract after a loan spell at Swansea last season, where he made 35 appearances and contributed four goals and four assists, it seems logical for the midfielder to seek a permanent move away, especially given his valuation of €9 million (£7.6 million) according to Transfermarkt. Patino’s future at Arsenal appears uncertain.
