Report: Arsenal now in 'pole position' for another 'world-class' midfielder alongside Mikel Merino

Arsenal fans have had to wait a while for their first senior signing of the summer, but now there could well be several in quick succession.

In late July, the Gunners signed Italy international defender Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna for a deal said to be worth £42million.

However, Arsenal now appear to be making good progress in pursuit of Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino.

CaughtOffside recently reported that the Gunners are “set to complete” a deal with the Liga outfit worth around £34million plus bonuses.

Now, a report has emerged claiming Arsenal are among those in “pole position” for another “world-class” midfielder alongside Merino.

Arsenal ‘could have advantage’ for Adrien Rabiot

On Thursday, Gazzetta dello Sport published an article entitled “Rabiot, where are you going now? Many are looking for him, Real, Atletico and Arsenal in pole position”.

The article claimed that La Liga and the Premier League are Rabiot’s preferred destinations, and Champions League football is “essential”.

“For this reason, from an English perspective, Liverpool and Arsenal could have an advantage over Manchester United,” wrote Gazzetta.

Veronique Rabiot, the player’s mother and agent, also spoke to Gazzetta about the state of play regarding her son’s future.

“It’s true, I’m talking to some clubs. And I’m the only contact,” she said.

“In fact, I am talking to certain clubs, but then some media attribute to me contacts with other teams that I do not speak to. So I suppose that other people speak for me.

“But since the beginning of Adrien’s career I have been the only interlocutor with the clubs, and if a club has any interest they must speak directly to me.”

Who is Arsenal target Adrien Rabiot?

Rabiot is a 29-year-old professional footballer who is currently a free agent after his Juventus contract expired.

The midfielder boasts a very impressive CV, having impressed for Paris Saint-Germain and Juve over the years.

At PSG, he won six Ligue 1 titles, four French Cups, five French League Cups and four French Super Cups.

Meanwhile, Rabiot lifted one Serie A title, two Italian Cups and one Italian Super Cup while at Juve.

And for Les Bleus, he won the 2021 Nations League trophy.

Juve and France icon David Trezeguet sung the reported Arsenal target’s praises back in 2022.

He told Football Italia, via Juvefc.com: “He is world class, an extraordinary player.

“Now he will evaluate his options and will go back to being the important player he always was.”