Arsenal risk Mikel Merino transfer blowing up in their face as 'frustration' spills over

Arsenal appear at risk of scuppering their own pursuit of Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino as the transfer saga drags on. The Euro 2024 winner seemed destined for the Emirates on Saturday when it was confirmed he was being left out of his club’s opening La Liga match with Rayo Vallecano.

Coach Imanol Alguacil admitted his decision was due to Merino being in talks with ‘another club’, with the two parties having reportedly agreed personal terms.

But on Tuesday it emerged a £30million bid from the Gunners had been rejected, with the Spaniards said to want closer to £35m.

Negotiations have since continued, with Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay flying to London today (Wednesday) in an attempt to persuade Arsenal to meet their asking price. That followed the Premier League club’s sporting director, Edu, travelling to Spain to help instigate the transfer.

Sociedad’s hesitancy to sell Merino comes amid speculation over his midfield partner Martin Zubimendi, who last week turned down a move to Liverpool. And the delay makes it now inconceivable that Merino will be in place and available to Mikel Arteta for the trip to Aston Villa on Saturday.

Widespread reports have emerged of Arsenal chiefs growing frustrated over the prolonged saga. Indeed, club fans have been vociferous in urging Edu and Arteta to move on to other targets, rather than waste precious time with the summer transfer window closing on August 30. 

Sociedad bosses could harden their stance on the transfer upon hearing that their Arsenal counterparts are leaking their frustrations. Aperribay and co will be well aware of Arsenal’s desire to finalise their squad for the 2024/25 season as they bid to finally overhaul Manchester City in the title race, and are currently not obliged to sell Merino.

He does have a release clause of £56million, although has already entered the final 12 months of his contract. So despite the risk of losing him for free next summer, the Spaniards appear happy to play hardball in order to get as big a fee as possible.

According to Give Me Sport, Arsenal remain confident that a deal will be completed. Merino would be Arteta’s third signing of the summer, after David Raya made his loan switch from Brentford permanent and Riccardo Calafiori arrived from Bologna.

The manager has thus far refused to comment on proceedings. Speaking ahead of the 2-0 win over Wolves on Saturday, he insisted his main focus was on his current squad and not potential signings. 

“Before the season we had two objectives,” he said. “The main one was to make sure that we are very much in love with our players and find ways to improve them because that’s the main thing.”