It feels like we’ve been saying this for a long time, but Mikel Merino’s move to Arsenal is close to completion.
The reality is that the deal wasn’t as close some outlets were reporting a month ago. On the eve of Arsenal’s final pre-season friendly with Liverpool, there had been talk of verbal offers being finalised, but these are understood to be wide of the mark.
At the time, Merino was one of a few targets Arsenal were keeping tabs on. Before a move could be made, total internal alignment was required. Mikel Arteta pushed hard to bring his compatriot to the Emirates Stadium, and so a deal was eventually agreed.
Arsenal have generally preferred ‘project signings’ in the past, but Arteta views Merino as a player who can help him win the league right now. The Spaniard can provide competition for Declan Rice in the left No.8 role, and is viewed as someone who can make the third man runs that Kai Havertz was initially brought in for last summer.
It is understood that the deal should be completed in the coming days. Sources have confirmed to football.london that they expect Merino’s arrival to be confirmed very soon.
Arsenal’s business in this window may not end there, though. There are only a few days remaining until transfer deadline day on August 30th, but the Gunners are still hopeful of bringing in a forward. Arteta was willing to admit as much after Saturday’s win over Aston Villa.
“We are a little bit short,” he said to Sky Sports of his options up top. “If we can do something we will do it but at the moment we love the ones we have, they are really, really good.”
A deal for Nico Williams is one that Arsenal would have been open to, but as things stand it looks highly unlikely that they will be able to pull that off. Moves for Viktor Gyokeres or Victor Osimhen also remain unlikely.
