Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino has “said yes” to joining Arsenal but there are still issues to resolve before the move can go ahead, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Writing in his Daily Briefing column, Romano said that the Gunners want to pay the Spanish international’s €30m fee in instalments, and that means it could be a while before the transfer is finalised:
“Mikel Merino has an agreement with Arsenal. The contract is already agreed. The player said yes. He knows that Mikel Arteta wants him. This is the reality.”
“Arsenal have been closing in on the deal since last week, but they need to agree on the payment structure, payment terms, so a work in progress.”
Merino was left out of Real Sociedad’s last match
There were suggestions that a move was imminent after the 28-year-old was left out of the squad for Real Sociedad’s game against Union Berlin.
However, Romano has confirmed that Merino had picked up a minor injury, preventing him from taking part in the friendly.
Arsenal could free up some funds if they sell another player
The Gunners do need to be careful about PSR and Financial Fair Play so it’s not surprising that they want to pay as little upfront for Merino as possible.
While the sale of Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham for an initial £27m did help balance the books, offloading another player would definitely make the financial situation easier to manage.
Eddie Nketiah’s protracted move to Marseille appears to be back on again. Arsenal have been holding out for £30m plus add-ons, which is not a price tag that the French club were prepared to match.
However, it seems that a compromise could be reached. If Nketiah is sold, it would definitely help discussions run more smoothly with Merino and his club.
