According to The Mirror, Arsenal are finalising a £25 million deal with Real Sociedad for midfielder Mikel Merino.
The Spain international is believed to have agreed personal terms and is ready to reject interest from Atletico Madrid and Barcelona to make a return to the Premier League.
Merino joined Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle on loan from Borussia Dortmund in 2017 and made the move permanent the following summer for €7 million before being flipped for a €5 million profit within two weeks.
Landing at Real Sociedad, he became part of the furniture in San Sebastian making 242 appearances in six seasons, scoring 27 goals and making 30 assists. During that time he also played alongside Martin Odegaard who joined the club on loan from Real Madrid.
Merino’s debut for Spain came in 2020 and after flitting in and out of squads, he’s become a regular in the last 18 months. He featured in all seven of his country’s victories at Euro 2024, most notably coming off the bench to score a dramatic late winner against Germany in the quarter-finals.
It’s believed Merino’s versatility in the centre of the pitch is part of the appeal for Mikel Arteta who is looking for competition for both the number 6 and number 8 roles.
It remains to be seen how quickly Arsenal can wrap up a deal but with only two friendlies left before the new Premier League campaign begins, you can be sure Edu will be under pressure to move quickly.
Really solid player, I think he’d add a lot of quality to our squad and with only 12 months left on his contract should be available at a good price. I like Ruiz even more and think he’d been amazing, but maybe isn’t available. Nonetheless, we absolutely need a midfielder addition and this guy is an absolutely rock at #6. Big, mobile, strong and technically gifted, only short comings I see is that he’s not the most dynamic passer or driver with the ball. But I think we have that elsewhere.
Another point is he is 28, though that’s part of the price tag.
„This guy is an absolutely rock at #6.” Is he though?
Today’s blog actually ponders over this question and explicitly states that “Merino is more of a left eight than a holding midfielder”.
(I don’t know the answer so that’s why I raise this)
He seems tactically astute enough, and experienced enough to rotate positions with someone else in midfield.
Defensively he is a beast, having that allows Dec to play #8, which I think Mikel (and Dec) want. They probably play a bit interchangeably; I think that part is key. The fact he can play both is why he’s someone we’re after (and he’ll be ready to go immediately). I think he’s a really good addition, sure, I’d slightly prefer Ruiz over him as I think Ruiz is a more dynamic player (brilliant ball progresser and passer), but Merino is quality.
Insert the “that’s a bingo” gif from Inglorious Basterds, I think this is the correct answer. Declan I think is ideal as a 6 who can sometimes become an 8, or vice versa, so he really needs someone alongside him who can interchange more or less the same way to allow for that flexibility.
Just watched a youtube video of him, reminds me of Edu.
He’s not a 6, he definitely looks like a left 8 in a 3 or requires a partner to play deeper to me. I think he’s a deceptively dynamic passer and someone who looks like they can dictate the tempo of a match.
Hope so, but his passing data isn’t that strong, defensively is where he stands out, watching him play for Spain I felt the same. I look at data and read reliable scouting reports even more than YouTube highlight videos that I agree give bias pictures. He looks a great fit in our pressing system and will help us prevent counter attacks with his mobility.
His aerial ability is nothing short of freakish as well.
— #1 midfielder for aerial wins in Europe’s Top-5
— 50+ more wins than Souček, Havertz, etc
— More than VVD, Pinnock, etc
— Per 90, more than Gabriel, Saliba, White … combined
Credit: @billycarpy
I almost feel sorry for our opposition when we have set pieces this season 😂
Matter of interest, why all the down votes for this comment? Seems perfectly reasonable.
Yes, he’s an 8 or a 6 in a double pivot.
I’ve said we should get Ruiz when he was at Napoli.
Haven’t seen much of Merino but I trust Mikel’s judgement
He’s actually VERY dynamic. Too dynamic. He lacks that bit of “pausa” in his game, which is why Fabian Ruiz started ahead of him for Spain and why Zubimendi was his midfield partner. They have calmer temperaments. This explains his low pass completion percentage too. He’s looking to play quick “home run” passes quite often for Sociedad after winning the ball back and he loves driving forward into traffic. He and Califiori share this characteristic, so it seems like the club is deliberately targeting profiles with a bit more chaos factor about them to give us more solutions to destabilize… Read more »
Nice theory! I think Mikel is definitely looking for tempo with calafiori in particular and if like you say Merino’s poorer passing numbers are a result of longer passing that’s probably even more of a good sign for his signing. If we’re targeting players that can easily switch tempos while improving defense … I’m very much on board. Again, I think this is a really good signing. Hopefully we get it done.
Good. The sooner we can get rid of Partey the better, even if it means giving him away.
wtf
He’s not a replacement for partey, more likely a rotation option for rice or havertz. This is a squad player, not a nailed on starter.
if he plays 8 and rice plays 6 then he is competition for partey
I used to think so but actually after reviewing the options at LCM, he looks tailor made and his presence there would allow Rice to resume duties as the sole pivot, which I believe was the intention all along (Rice is on record saying this). I think what happened is that KH proved his lack of suitaibility for the role, and Rice became the best option to fill the void. Merino now addresses this. Arteta could throw us a curveball with a reconfigured formation, but no sign of that so far.
Have you all noticed in preseason that we are switching play far more often? I think this suits Rice in the sole pivot. He was excellent at Westham at that.
We also cannot expect rice to play 50 games or jorginho to play that role as he lacks the physicality and mobility necessary to play the position (like rice can). Perhaps we will see someone step from defense to midfield to help cover here, and only time will tell.
timber…
Interesting observation! I even remember an interview where he cited that as a main difference in how he is asked to play: Fewer switches.
Get over it. Hez not leaving. There is no better passer in our team that can sit in that hole and distribute. Georginho is lower in the pecking order than him. End of the season proved this. U don’t need legs in that position If ur role is to just sit and receive. Rice can break up the play.
It’s hard to take you seriously when you were such a big fan of Denilson.
??? not sure who you’re thinking I am.
People quickly forget how good Partey is….i guess its the injuries.
The age/fee calculation looks reasonable and he’s a “solid” player as has already been said.
I read that Barcelona had him on their list but apparently put their main transfer effort into signing Williams – which doesn’t look likely now. If Edu wants him, I think he needs to move fast just in case Barcelona make a late move.
Tidy bit of business if we land him!
The shear size of the fee for a 28 year old makes me feel a bit meh about it… but if he comes in and does a good job, as they say, all’s wool that ends well.
£25m in today’s market feels about right for a 28-year-old of his quality. Whether it’s the most important area of the team to spend this money on is to me the bigger question (I really think we need a winger) but w/ever I am not Arteta.
Very flattered by the serious response. But I didn’t actually mean much of it, was more an excuse to make some more Merino wool puns. You might say I was spinning a yarn.
You (or maybe Johnny) need to give us a combined pun/song reference for when Califiori and Merino are both in the side.
Calafiori dreamin
of a fluffy Merino wool jumper
On such a winter’s day?
Now that partey appears to be staying then there has to be room for a Calafiori / Partey Tupac combo…
Califiori, and Thomas Partey, Califiori, and Thomas Partey, in the city, city of London.. and so on and so forth
yeah no, as you can see I don’t quite have Johnny’s gift for poetry. Best I could come up with for Merino is based on REM’s “All the Way to Reno (You’re gonna be a star)” but I don’t think many people know that one
If we pay £25million, we’ve been fleeced.
Shear madness
Don’t be sheepish about this dea
Final year of his contract is a big factor here.
Yes as they say wool of a duck’s back if he comes in and plays well.
If not I’m sure fans will be lamb-asting Edu.
Nah….He’s a world bleater, he is.
Don’t appreciate you guys ramming your opinions down our throats, but I’ll admit am gonna look right sheepish if he comes in and excels.
Ewe will!
Quarter of what we paid for Declan.
I’d say we still don’t have a clear first choice starting player at LCM, and I now think that’s what this signing is meant to address. I believe that KH was supposed to be first choice LCM when he was purchased last season, but time has proved he is not a midfielder. Merino is a specialist midfielder who has played the role at CL level for several seasons. This feels like as sure of a plug and play thing as there is in the market. LCM has become like the defense agains the dark arts professorship at Hogwarts: there’s a… Read more »
Hopefully another bit of business like the Trossard deal. Reasonable price and a quality player with experience.
Off topic, but was Inaki Cana the one who recommended Dan Bentley for number 2 goalie? I saw some highlights today of the game against Palace and he looks dreadful. A nervous basket case. Is Inaki trying to sabotage us?!
Now come on mate, he did get us Runnarson…ohh wait…
The same who recommended, what’s his name again? Runnarson.
I have no problem with the potential signing of Merino for our midfield.
I just think that we actually need TWO new central midfield players this transfer window, including at least one who can be the long term successor to Jorginho or Partey.
One player who could step up is nwaeri, but he seems more likely to full the spot that elneny left in the squad. Unless someone comes in for partey and leaves us enough time to sign a replacement, I don’t know that we will see another arrival in midfield. My theory is Saudis will come in for partey once the premier league window has closed.
I still can’t believe this one.
He’s a brilliant leader and communicator on the pitch and so solid and technically sound. Funny enough he really had Tierney’s back at La Real being able to talk more freely in English to him.
I go to La Real a lot and it’s sad to see him leave them, but I’m delighted that he’s coming to us.
can you imagine how confusing things are gonna get if he joins us? we already have 3 gabriels, we can’t also have 2 mikels. sorry but unless he changes his name or comes up with a cool nickname, it’s a no for me.
May have been too early for him but he was poor at the Toon !
He’s a different player now. Didn’t play with physicality at Newcastle. Found that at some point later in his career.
Odergaard, Merino and Isak. Last piece of the tri that played together.. here’s hoping
Cmon, there’s no way the captain smells bad.
Finally, no more Havertz in the midfield!
why the downvotes? havertz in midfield sucks.
deal is prolly done unless chelsea hijacks it..
real already got a replacement in sucic.
Solid player but not exactly what we need at number 6 or left number 8. Not inspiring at all. The profile we should be looking at is a younger and less injury-prone Partey replacement. I can’t trust Partey to a half season without a significant injury, never mind a full season.
Another 6″2′ player in the first team. By my reckoning that makes Calafiori, Gabriel, Saliba, Rice, Merino and Havertz as 6″2′ plus players and Ben White at 6″1′. That’s a big team, imposing team.