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August 15, 2024

Mikel Merino: Real Sociedad and Spain midfielder in transfer talks with Arsenal – La Liga

Real Sociedad and Arsenal are in negotiations to sign midfield player Michael Merino. Merino, who scored the game-winning goal for Spain against Germany in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals, has one year remaining on his contract; it is anticipated that personal terms will not be a problem.

Real Sociedad and Arsenal are negotiating over the signing of midfielder Mikel Merino.

The 28-year-old is reportedly keen on the move. However, some aspects of the deal still need to be finalized, including negotiations on transfer fees and contract terms. Despite his interest, both clubs remain in discussions to iron out the remaining details.

Reaching a personal terms agreement will be easy.

Merino’s contract with Sociedad expires in a year.

During the European Championship, he played in all seven of Spain’s matches, contributing consistently to the team’s success. His standout moment came in the quarterfinal against Germany, where he scored the game-winning goal, securing Spain’s place in the semifinals and highlighting his ability to perform in critical moments.

What Arsenal could gain from Merino?

Standing at 6 feet 2 inches, Merino carries on Arsenal’s trend of pursuing physically dominant players after the signings of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and, most recently, Riccardo Calafiori. He possesses exceptional aerial strength and a talent for stealing the ball.

Germany, under Julian Nagelsmann, learned that lesson at the European Championship when Merino, in the penultimate minute of extra time, produced a towering header from Dani Olmo’s cross, another of his signature late runs into the box that sealed Spain’s semifinal spot.

Merino was one of just four players, along with Alvaro Morata, Lamine Yamal, and Mikel Oyarzabal, to appear in all seven of Spain’s games as they won the trophy, despite not being a regular starter for Luis de la Fuente’s team.

“I think that tournament was a good reflection of him,” Miguel Flaño, a former team-mate at his boyhood club Osasuna, tells.

“He is used to starting games and being very important for his club. But his role at the European Championship was something different. Although he wasn’t a starter, he showed a lot of humility, understanding he could still be important in another way.”

“And as we saw, he was decisive, most of all with his goal against Germany but also in the games when he didn’t score. He just puts the team first and thinks about how he can help.”

Flaño and those acquainted with Merino at Osasuna, where he made his debut at the age of 18, 

were not surprised by his ascent to fame, even though it came after challenging stints at Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle. Merino was instrumental in Osasuna’s 2016 promotion to the top flight of Spain.

“He was the soul of the team, despite being very young,” Alfredo Sanchez, a former Osasuna player and assistant to Enrique Martin, the club’s manager at the time, tells.

“He had tremendous personality and, in football terms, what you see from him now is what he was then. Very active on his left foot, adaptable to different situations, he can pass, he can beat a man, he is strong in the air, and he knows when to arrive in the box.”

“Mikel was always a very complete player,” adds Flaño, another graduate of the club’s academy. “He is technically very good and he is tactically very intelligent because he understands football so well.”

“His aerial game is valuable both in defensive and attacking set-pieces. He can really make the difference in those situations.

“And then, in terms of his mentality, he is a boy who doesn’t feel pressure and has the personality to step up in important games.”

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