Arsenal plot next move as Mikel Merino deal finalised after medical and duo near exit

Arsenal are finalising a deal worth up to £32.6m to sign Spain midfielder Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad.

Merino has agreed terms on a long-term contract and travelled to England at the weekend to undergo his medical.

After weeks of negotiating, Arsenal finally agreed a fee with Sociedad last week that will see them pay £28.4m up front, with £4.2m in add-ons.

Sociedad had been reluctant to sell Merino, but agreed to let him go as he had one year left on his contract and would not sign a new deal.

Arsenal would like to sign a forward next and there could be further departures.

Eddie Nketiah is on the verge of a £30m move to Crystal Palace and Fabio Vieira is close to joining Porto on loan, while Aaron Ramsdale’s future needs to be resolved.

Arsenal would prefer to sell the goalkeeper and rejected a loan offer from Ajax this month. Ajax are still keen on Ramsdale, but Bournemouth, Southampton and Wolves have also all shown an interest in him.

Arsenal will need to sign a back-up if Ramsdale leaves and their preferred target is Espanyol’s Joan Garcia.

The Gunners want an experienced homegrown goalkeeper to be their No3 and had a £50,000 bid rejected for Wolves’ Dan Bentley earlier this summer.