The Gunners have been credited with an interest in Merino after impressing with Spain at Euro 2024. Mikel Arteta is keen to add another midfielder to his squad and Merino has been shortlisted as a potential target.
Barcelona are among the others that had been in the running for the 28-year-old, but it's now understood the La Liga side will not sign him this summer, according to SPORT. It's claimed that a move for Merino was only possible if Frenkie de Jong was sold. But as the Dutchman has an ankle injury and his return date is unclear, a move for Merino is now improbable.
As it stands, Arsenal are the only club in the hunt to sign Merino. The Gunners were said to be well placed to pull off a deal, but Real Sociedad have improved their contract offer to Merino in recent days and are pushing for him to commit his future to the San Sebastian club. Merino has one year left on his existing deal and could be available for around £25m this summer.
Speaking on his future last month, Merino hinted that would decide his future after Euro 2024. He said: "The next step has to come from within, from me, from analysing myself, seeing what player I am now, where I am and where I want to go. And what is the way to do it.
"Now at a football level I still have one more year at Real and I am in the best possible place to live and grow. At the level of rumours, it is something that I do not give importance to because I believe that a Euros is the most important thing you can face and requires 100 per cent of your attention.
"So when the Euro is over and the days go by, I will meet with the club and my representative, to see what they have to say to me and what they don’t, and we’ll see."
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