Arsenal are ‘very, very close’ to securing their third major signing of the summer after punting Barcelona into touch, and the Gunners have already agreed personal terms with the player and launched a verbal bid.... CLICK TO READ THE FULL NEWS HERE▶▶
Arsenal have already wrapped up two major acquisitions this window, with David Raya the first to arrive following a solid loan spell last season.
The Spain international goalkeeper joined upon activation of Arsenal’s £27m option to buy. Riccardo Calafiori followed through the front door at the Emirates three weeks later.
Calafiori, 22, cost around £42m to sign from Bologna and will bolster what was already the Premier League’s meanest defence.
Calafiori will primarily play at left-back, though will also provide more adequate cover at left centre-back for Gabriel Magalhaes than Jakub Kiwior has in recent times.
The summer spending won’t stop there, however, with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano confirming Arsenal hoped to sign Mikel Merino as soon as Emile Smith Rowe left for Fulham.
Smith Rowe completed his £27m plus £7m in add-ons switch to the Cottagers on Friday. As a homegrown player, the proceeds from that sale represent pure profit on Arsenal’s books. A sell on clause was also included.
All eyes are now on Merino who Arsenal have already agreed personal terms on an four-year contract with.
The Real Sociedad and Spain ace, 28, is older than most players Mikel Arteta and Edu have signed of late.
The flip side of that argument is he’s ready to make an instant impact and Arsenal only need minor tweaks to overcome Manchester City if last season is anything to go by.
Barcelona had also shown interest in Merino who has racked up 28 caps for Spain since debuting in 2020. The obvious appeal of joining one of Spain’s big two clubs could have posed a problem for Arsenal given Merino is Spanish.
