Arsenal close to reaching agreement on personal terms for Mikel Merino

Arsenal have readied a contract offer for Merino after almost finalising ESR sale.

Arsenal have got a contract offer ready for Mikel Merino who has told the club he would be interested in joining. The player also has interest from Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, however Arsenal are confident of securing the player after speaking to the players’s camp. An offer of around £25m is understood to be satisfactory for Real Sociedad as the player has told them he would like to leave. Real Sociedad are trying to convince the player to stay though. ArsenalZone understands that the sale of ESR to Fulham would need to go through before the pursuit of Mikel Merino officially starts. Fulham are close to reaching an agreement with Arsenal for a full £35m package.