Arsenal close in on signing Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad

Arsenal are closing in on signing Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad after further talks  on Wednesday night.

The Gunners have been chasing Merino, 28, all summer and had an initial £21.5million offer rejected.

Merino, who previously played for Newcastle, helped Spain to win Euro 2024 last month, with the midfielder scoring the winner in their 2-1 quarter-final victory over Germany.

The Real Sociedad star has played 242 times for the Basque club over the past six years, while he has also racked up 28 caps for La Roja.

Mail Sport reported last week how a £30m bid should be enough to sign the 28-year-old and Arsenal sporting director Edu has been in Spain to push negotiations along.

Merino - who has one year left on his contract - was excluded from Real Sociedad's squad for their LaLiga opener against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, with Sociedad boss Imanol Alguacil saying that was 'the best solution', amid the transfer speculation.

If a move is to be completed, Merino would become Arsenal's second signing of the window after the £42m addition of Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna last month.

The progress on the Merino deal comes at a time when Arsenal are close to selling Eddie Nketiah to Nottingham Forest for £30m.

The Gunners academy graduate has scored 38 goals in 168 games for the club and Mail Sport reported on Monday how Arsenal had rejected Forest's initial £25m bid.

The striker has been allowed to leave the Emirates after falling down the pecking order and saw a move to Marseille fall through earlier this summer after the French side refused to meet Arsenal’s asking price.

Meanwhile, Gunners midfielder Charlie Patino is heading to Deportivo La Coruna for £1m plus a hefty sell-on clause.