Real Sociedad chief gives key update on Arsenal’s Mikel Merino chase

Talks are ongoing between Real Sociedad and Arsenal for the signing of Mikel Merino with the player wanting to move to the Emirates, but the Spanish club’s president has warned the Gunners they will not be bullied into a deal.

Arsenal have been quiet in the transfer market this summer but are keen to add the Spain international to their ranks before the end of the window.

An offer of around €25m (£21.4m) has already been rejected by Real Sociedad, who are hoping for closer to €35m (£29.8m) for the 28-year-old.

Merino, formally of Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund, only has one year left on his contract and has made it clear he wants to leave for Arsenal, which is why he was left out of the opening La Liga game of the season.

Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay told radio station Onda Vasca: ‘Merino was clear that he didn’t want to say he was renewing [his contract] and then leave. It wasn’t a surprise to us.

‘Unfortunately, one of the teams we didn’t want to show up showed up.

‘We will talk to Arsenal and defend the interests of La Real. When we consider that the offer is good, we will say yes. We know what Merino’s wishes are, so we decided that he should not be called up [for the game against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday].’

It seems that an agreement is very likely to be reached, with not too great a gap to bridge in the valuations and the player making his feelings clear.

Real Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil was asked about the futures of both Merino and Martin Zubimendi before the defeat to Rayo Vallecano and said: ‘Both are here, one is not on the list and the other is in the squad.

‘They still belong to Real and both are going to be with the team to the death. Nothing changes, I said it yesterday.

‘Those of us who are here will go all out to win the game. And then we’ll see who is there for the next one.

‘As long as it’s open, we’re all waiting, but that’s part of football. I take it as it comes. I prepare for the matches with what we have.’

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