Arsenal still working to sign Mikel Merino after first bid rejected

Arsenal are prepared to be patient in their pursuit of Mikel Merino after their initial offer for the Spain midfielder was rejected by Real Sociedad.

Talks between Arsenal’s sporting director, Edu, and the Spanish club are continuing after Sociedad turned down a first formal bid believed to be worth €25m (£21.4m).

They are understood to be holding out for a fee of around €35m (£30m) for the 28-year-old who has only one year left on his contract. Merino has rejected Sociedad’s offer of a new deal having already agreed personal terms with Arsenal. He is believed to be keen on moving back to the Premier League after a short spell at Newcastle earlier in his career.

However, having already persuaded Martín Zubimendi to remain at the club after he rejected interest from Liverpool, Sociedad remain hopeful that they can still convince Merino to follow suit.

Arsenal are expected to return with a new offer in the coming days, although there is understood to be a recognition that it may take some time to wrap up a deal with the new Premier League season to start this weekend.

Merino was a key member of the Sociedad squad that played in the Champions League last season and featured in every match for his country as they won Euro 2024.

Arsenal are still open to selling several players in Mikel Arteta’s squad as they prepare for their opening game of the season against Wolves on Saturday, with Ajax’s initial approach for Aaron Ramsdale rejected. Arsenal have been linked with a move for Espanyol’s Joan García if the England goalkeeper is allowed to leave.

Bournemouth, meanwhile, have emerged as potential suitors for Eddie Nketiah after Marseille were put off by Arsenal’s £40m price tag. Andoni Iraola’s side are in the market for a replacement for Dominic Solanke following his move to Tottenham and could test their resolve to keep Nketiah after seeing a bid rejected by Porto for the Brazilian forward Evanilson.