Arsenal lining up 'perfect' transfer for Euro 24 star who Declan Rice will love

Arsenal icon Ray Parlour believes his former club's move for Spanish star Mikel Merino will delight Declan Rice.

Euro 2024 star Merino is touted to become the Gunners' third summer arrival. They have already secured the permanent signings of goalkeeper David Raya and £42million defender Riccardo Calafiori.

Mikel Arteta is said to be keen on bringing the 28-year-old midfielder to the Emirates for a relatively cheap £25m. And reports suggest Merino has already agreed personal terms with the north London club.

Cult hero Parlour believes that a new midfielder to play alongside talisman Rice would give the Englishman more license to go forward and would improve Arteta's side. Merino impressed during his nation's Euros triumph this summer, scoring a 119th-minute winner to help them beat Germany in the quarter-final. After that, they bested Rice's England 2-1 in the final.

Despite his club, Real Sociedad, reportedly offering him a new contract amid the Gunners' interest, the midfielder has held positive talks with Arteta's team. And he now looks increasingly likely to be on his way back to the Premier League, after a lacklustre spell with Newcastle in 2017/18.

Speaking to talksSPORT, Parlour stressed the importance of a strong midfield duo, saying: "They're looking at Thomas Partey. He might be on his way out, so they do need a little bit of strengthening in that midfield.

"It [signing Merino] gives Declan Rice a little bit more license to go forward if you've got another holding midfielder in there. I know he plays like that for England in that holding role, but I like to see Declan get forward. And as I've said before, I'm a little bit of an old-fashioned midfielder, I like the box-to-box players.

"It's just using your common sense as a midfielder. If someone runs past you who is playing alongside you and gets forward, you just fill in for him, and vice versa. It's very, very straightforward."

Defining Merino's role within a midfield is difficult. He notched eight goals in all competitions last campaign and added five assists, so he knows how to attack.

However, he registered the most duels won out of any player in Europe's premier seven leagues, with 326, so he is also capable of tracking back and covering the back line. "He's a good age. It's perfect," added Parlour.

"He should be in his prime at that sort of time. I think they have a good relationship with Real Sociedad anyway, and Arsenal have said, 'It's a decent deal'."