Real Sociedad have offered Mikel Merino an improved contract in a bid to stave off interest in the midfielder from Arsenal.
Merino, 28, is being courted by both the Gunners and Barcelona with his stock at an all-time high following his contribution to Spain's triumphant Euro 2024 campaign.
The former Osasuna man has now entered the final year of his contract, leaving Real Sociedad vulnerable to interest. But club president Jokin Aperribay has not given up hope of retaining Merino and revealed that the player has been offered a new deal.
Aperribay is quoted as saying by Mundo Deportivo: “We are not in any conversation with any club to get any player to leave. We knew that the summer was going to be long and that is how it is going to be, we are going to manage [it] during August. We will try to make the team come out stronger.
“I think that Merino has been honest with Real Sociedad during the last year, if he has not renewed it is because he did not want to tell the fans: ‘I’m staying’ - and then leave.
“I would like him not to leave. If he tells us that he likes any of the offers he has on the table, we will see. We are not negotiating with any club now. We are aware that Merino has offers, and we know them. The conversation with him and those around him has been very sincere and hopefully his decision is to stay, he already knows that we want him to stay.”
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is prioritising a deal for a midfielder after capturing Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori on Monday and Merino is understood to be his top target.
Arsenal have already turned David Raya's loan move into a permanent one this summer and are also likely to target a new striker in order to boost their chances of beating Manchester City in the Premier League title race next season.
Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres is understood to be another player of interest to Arsenal, who saw top target Benjamin Sesko opt to sign a new contract with Red Bull Leipzig earlier this summer.
Gyokeres, 26, scored 42 goals in 50 games for Sporting last season and there has been speculation that he could be sold for a blockbuster fee before next month's transfer deadline.