Arsenal tipped to seal deal for key £25m summer signing 'next week' as Mikel Arteta steps up…

The midfielder was thought to be joining Riccardo Calafiori in becoming the two newest Gunners’ signings following the Italian’s Emirates arrival earlier this week. Attention was beginning to return to whether Arsenal would continue their hunt for a new striker but it would appear that Merino’s Premier League move is far from complete.

Merino currently has less than one year on his contract and has not accepted a renewal offer from the La Liga side. Arsenal have long been reported to be one of the clubs keen on signing the European Championship winner and the latest reports indicate that while the Gunners are ‘determined to go all in’ to bring him to north London, the Andalusian club are yet to have any knowledge of Edu Gaspar preparing an offer.

It’s reported that the north London side haven’t yet opened talks with Real Sociedad and while La Real are said to be waiting for Arsenal or another club to make an offer, there are doubts that any side will make a convincing bid before August 5th.