Mikel Merino likely to sign for Arsenal as Real Sociedad accept £32 million bid.

Arsenal are likely to complete the transfer of Mikel Merino after Real Sociedad accepted a bid for the Spain midfielder worth more than £32 million. Negotiations regarding a deal for the 28-year-old have been ongoing for some weeks, with Sociedad presidents requesting that Arsenal match their asking price for Merino.

Jokin Aperribay was believed to have landed in London on Wednesday for additional talks with Arsenal’s sporting director, Edu, with a breakthrough occurring 24 hours later.

Arsenal are understood to have agreed to pay £28 million up front for the former Newcastle midfielder, who had one year remaining on his Sociedad deal, with a further £4.2 million in potential incentives. Merino is poised to sign a four-year contract after missing Sociedad’s season-opening 2-1 defeat at home to Real Vallecano on Sunday. After turning down a new contract offer, he made it clear that he wanted to join Arsenal.

“Merino made it clear that he did not want to announce he was renewing and then quit. “It did not surprise us,” Aperribay remarked. “Unfortunately, one of the teams we didn’t want to show up showed up.”

Arsenal is still in talks with Nottingham Forest about Eddie Nketiah after a £25 million deal was rejected last week. They are set to up their bid for the 25-year-old striker, who has signed personal terms to come to the City Ground, with Arsenal likely to accept £30 million.

Wolves have made an offer to acquire goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale on loan, with Espanyol’s Joan García being considered as his replacement if the England goalkeeper leaves.