Arsenal
Aston Villa
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Everton
Fulham
Leeds United
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest
Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Transfers
Arsenal ready to pay £25.2m upfront to sign ‘world class’ player with life changing contract prepared
Arsenal are now set to stump up a large chunk of cash to secure a primary transfer target.
Transfer deals are usually instalment based in the modern era, with clubs paying a £30m fee across ten years at £3m every 12 months in some cases, to give an example.
Now – however – Arsenal are ready to pay the entire asking price upfront to secure a target for Mikel Arteta…
Arsenal ready to pay entire Mikel Merino asking price
A story from now claims that Arsenal are willing to pay Real Sociedad their €30m (£25.2m) asking price for Mikel Merino in full.
The Spanish news outlet believe this is attractive to Real Sociedad – who are resigned to losing Merino after he rejected a new contract – and makes Arsenal favourites, as Barcelona can only afford the deal in staggered payments.
Mundo Deportivo add that the Spain international himself is yet to make a decision on his next club, although in Real Sociedad’s eyes, Arsenal are the preferred destination for financial reasons.
It comes after claimed in a separate story that Arsenal have made Merino a life changing contract offer in an attempt to lure him to the Emirates Stadium.
The Real Sociedad No.8 – who has been called a “world class footballer” by Kieran Tierney – made 45 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring eight goals while also providing five assists.
Merino also scored a 119th minute winner at UEFA Euro 2024 to knock Germany out at the quarter-final stage, with Spain eventually lifting the trophy.
Gunners in the driving seat
Of course, Merino still needs to say yes to Arsenal, but the Gunners are firmly in pole position ahead of Barcelona right now.
Barcelona are said to be strongly focused on signing Nico Williams and are prepared to spend their entire budget on the Athletic Bilbao No.11 this summer.
Therefore, if Arsenal can convince Merino to join, it sounds like this deal could progress quite quickly, with Real Sociedad pleased to hear the Gunners plan to pay the £25.2m asking price upfront.
READ MORE: Arsenal could actually complete new signing by the weekend
Be sure to keep an eye on this situation, as the saga between Arsenal and Merino continues.