Kieran Tierney thinks Arsenal are about to sign a ‘world-class’ player in the coming days

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Arsenal have been quiet in the transfer market so far, but there is expected to be significant action in the next week.

There are less than two weeks left of the transfer window, and there is plenty more to be done in terms of signings and sales.

Jakub Kiwior was left out of the matchday squad in Arsenal’s season opener against Wolves, and could yet leave as he has fallen even further down the pecking order at left-back.

Kieran Tierney also faces an uncertain future. He is currently injured, making a move away difficult, but given the options ahead of him, he is unlikely to play at all if he stays this season.

Riccardo Calafiori is the only arrival so far, but Mikel Merino is expected to join Arsenal from Real Sociedad soon, and Tierney has given rave reviews of his former teammate, having spent last season on loan at the La Liga side.

• READ MORE: Every player linked to and from Arsenal in the summer 2024 transfer window

Kieran Tierney believes Arsenal target Mikel Merino is ‘world-class’

Speaking to The Guardian in February during his loan spell at Real Sociedad, Tierney praised Merino, and highlighted how his outstanding ability was often overlooked.

“You have world-class players like [Martín] Zubimendi, [Mikel] Merino, Brais [Méndez]. It’s not that people don’t think they’re good; it’s just that if you’re only watching the Premier League every week, it’s hard to know. They’re world-class, and for so many to come from the academy is incredible,” Tierney stated of Real Sociedad’s midfield options.

Merino has been an incredibly consistent figure in La Liga since he joined Real Sociedad from Newcastle in 2018, but he now looks set to return to the Premier League, where he will reunite with Tierney and Martin Odegaard.

Mikel Merino will be a strong addition for Arsenal

Despite playing an important part in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph, Merino has been overlooked by some Arsenal fans given that he is not a big-money addition.

However, Merino will add serious quality to the Arsenal midfield, and more importantly, he will add balance.

The Spaniard is perfectly suited to the ‘left eight’ role in the midfield, and if Merino comes in to replace Thomas Partey, and Declan Rice drops to a deeper position, the 28-year-old can help get the best out of Gabriel Martinelli on the left, whilst bringing a strong blend of physicality and attacking threat.