'Really, really close': Fabrizio Romano says Arsenal are about to agree deal to sign 'world-class' player

Arsenal fans have some amazing news coming their way.

The Gunners only won one of their three pre-season games in the United States, but the mood around the club is still very, very good.

Arsenal are on the right path, and following the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna in the last week of July, the Gunners are already stronger than they were in the 2023/24 season.

Now, Arsenal are all set to go to the next level by signing another one of Mikel Arteta’s top targets in the coming days.

Fabrizio Romano shares the latest on Arsenal and Mikel Merino

Mikel Merino has been on Arsenal’s radar for over a month now.

The Real Sociedad midfielder, branded as a ‘world-class’ player by Kieran Tierney (Guardian), helped Spain win the Euros in Germany, and he has been a wanted man since.

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have both been linked with Merino, but Arteta has been pushing Arsenal to sign him as well.

Now, there is some good news for Arsenal fans.

Now, in what is an exciting update for Gooners, the journalist has revealed that an agreement between Arsenal and Sociedad for Merino is ‘really, really close’.

He wrote in his Daily Briefing: “Let me say that Arsenal are really closing in on the deal for Mikel Merino and let me clarify that the package is going to be something around €30m.

We’ll understand the structure of the deal in the next days, but the agreement between Arsenal and Real Sociedad is really, really close. Everything is proceeding to the final stages.”

Mikel Merino of Real Sociedad celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between RCD Mallorca and Real Sociedad at...

Photo by Rafa Babot/Getty Images

Merino will finally replace one fan favourite at Arsenal

The left side of the pitch was a bit of an issue for Arsenal in the 2023/24 season.

The Gunners have an incredible triangle on the right with Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Ben White, and that has helped them become one of the most dangerous teams in the Premier League.

On the opposite side last season, however, Arsenal just didn’t have the same balance, and one of the biggest reasons for that was Granit Xhaka’s departure in the summer of 2023.

Now, Merino could finally replace Xhaka on the left side of midfield, and with Calafiori set to play at left-back, Arsenal’s left side could become just as good as their opposite side.

That makes them significantly stronger, and it could well prove to be the difference in the title race next season.