Merino, Partey, Havertz & more

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This could be the week that the Mikel Merino deal finally takes a big step forward. I’ve been on holiday for the past fortnight and when I went away my information was the deal was on, but there was still plenty of negotiating left to do to sort out all the final details and how it would be structured. Now I’m back, the story isn’t that much different.

It’s always just been about the two clubs agreeing on a deal that works for the pair of them. Sociedad are obviously losing a major player in Merino and although there has always been an acceptance at the club that he would be allowed to go this summer due to his contract status, they were never just going to give him away.

His performances for Spain at the Euros also strengthened their position a bit so they have been holding out to get a fee and a deal structure that works for them and that has obviously seen things drag on a bit longer than Arsenal and certainly Mikel Arteta would have wanted.

There’s no doubt Arteta would have liked to have Merino on board earlier than this, but he has had to remain patient while discussions between the clubs have remained ongoing. But the deal now looks close and I expect things to move forward this week ahead of Saturday’s trip to Aston Villa.

I can’t say yet what the final fee will end up being, but it looks like being around the £30million mark, which in today’s market does not seem excessive. It looks like being a good deal for Arsenal, who will be getting an excellent player who will really strengthen their midfield options, but it also looks like being a good one for Sociedad given Merino is now into the final year of his current contract.

It’s been quite a slow summer for Arsenal so far in terms of the transfer window, but providing there are no late hiccups in negotiations, it looks like they should soon be adding Merino to the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori.

It’s going to be really interesting to see what Mikel Arteta’s long-term plans are for his midfield should the Merino deal go through as expected. Thomas Partey started in the holding role against Wolves at the weekend, with Declan Rice again playing in a more advanced role alongside Martin Odegaard.