OFFICIAL NOW: Arsenal announce the signing of 23yr sensational player after beating Liverpool and Madrid for His signature, agreement reached on a 5yr deal, Medical completed – announcement ongoing
So either this is one of the biggest journalistic cock ups of all time or Arsenal have actually signed Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad. He previously played for Osassuna, Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle United. That Newcastle time (which was a loan spell lasting one season, followed by another loan in 2017) might mean that he could speak English with a Geordie accent making it hard for other players in the team to understand him. So extra language tuition might be needed.
With Real Sociedad he won the 2019–20 Copa del Rey. He has also played for Spain which obviously means he could do so again and so not get rests in the summer and may be injured playing in meaningless inter-country games.
However , only played 25 games for Newcastle before signing a five-year contract with Real Sociedad becoming captain for the first time in 2020.
In the years ever since his move from Newcastle United back in 2018, he had notched up 190 appearances for the club scoring 20 goals. He is also reported to have put in good games for his club in Europe so he is used to the travel and all that the Champions League might entail.
The report from a Sky journalist, a Mr Plettenberg, says that his club has given him the green light to move following the inevitable round of negotiations with the club and with the player.
And now that has been finalised, and a fee of €33.5million for the player plus €5million in add-ons has been agreed. It is also being reported (by David Ornstein), that Arsenal have now completed their personal terms agreement with the player. Interesting he is considerably older than the normal Arteta transfer being 28. He is said to have been given a four-year contract with the option of an extra year should both parties agree.
So having not had much transfer news for a while the two big ones come in a rush – the defender Riccardo Calafiori was signed from Bologna a little while back.
Of course the media which lives and breathes on invented (and just occasionally truthful) transfer stories are now saying “there could be more additions in store before the window slams shut next Friday – with Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman in their sights, as previously reported exclusively by givemesport.”
As we have often noted before the window always slams and one might expect it to be broken by now, but that is the way these journalistic types write.
So anyway we now have a new player who will play next to Declan Rice as shown in the printed line ups but in effect will give Rice greater freedom to move forward and pick out his perfect pass.
The player who is likely to lose out would seem to be Jorginho leaving as it would seem likely that Thomas Partey will be in place to clear up anyone who gets through.
The one negative about the new signing is that sadly he has played 28 times for Spain and so is liable to vanish for internationals and be handed back with an injury and the standard “make sure he is ready for next time” note
It is also being said (which is yet another lot of being said being said) that Arsenal have agreed to pay £28m up front, with another £4.2m in potential bonuses. Merino is expected to sign a four-year deal It is reported that the player has made it quite clear that he wanted to leave.
Other reports at the moment suggest that Arsenal are in talks with Nottingham Forest over the transfer of Eddie Nketiah to them, although an offer reported in some of the media of £25m was apparently rejected last week. They are expected (by the media if no one else) to increase their bid, and it is said that Eddie has already wh agreed personal terms for a move. It is reported in some of the media that the fee will be around £30m which given the prices we are seeing at the moment would seem to be a good deal for Arsenal.
It is also reported that Wolverhampton Wolves have made an offer to take Aaron Ramsdale on loan. And looking at some of these comings and goings it appears that clubs are doing every deal with two eyes on the financial fair play regulations and a hand in the pocket. Or something like that.
