Arsenal the ‘main contender’ to sign £33m Euro 2024 hero, his club will now sell him

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Arsenal have been linked with several central midfielders as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his options in the middle of the park, and one target is now available.

Arsenal were heavily interested in Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, but the Spain International looks set to remain at his hometown club as he prefers to play in La Liga.

However, his teammate Mikel Merino has been recently linked, and the 28-year-old is reportedly admired by Arteta.

Merino played for Newcastle in 2018, but moved to Real Sociedad citing a desire to play near his hometown of Pamplona, but it now appears that his club are ready to sell him as he enters the final year of his contract.

Arsenal leading the race to sign Real Sociedad star Mikel Merino

A report from Italian outlet TuttoJuve has revealed that Arsenal are leading the race for Merino, and that Real Sociedad definitely want to sell him given his contract situation.

“The Basque club has decided that the best option is to immediately transfer its champion to avoid a free exit at a later date. Among the clubs that have shown interest, Arsenal is emerging as the main contender for his services, thanks also to the insistence of his manager, Mikel Arteta,” they stated in a report.

“Real Sociedad asks for at least 40 million Euros (£33m).”

There is one problem in Arsenal pursuit of Mikel Merino

Merino is a very talented player, and he showed his class as he netted a late winner for Spain in their Euro 2024 quarter-final victory over Germany.

The Spaniard would bring an excellent blend of physicality, height and technical ability to Arteta’s midfield, but there is one problem.

Merino excels in a box-to-box role, with Zubimendi playing at the base. Arsenal may now see Declan Rice as the perfect player for that role, and therefore wanted Zubimendi to complement him.

Signing Merino could essentially restrict Rice to playing at the base of midfield, and his performances with England at the Euros suggest that he is better off playing further forward with more freedom to roam, rather than trying to dictate play.