Premier League rivals Arsenal are leading the race to sign Real Sociedad midfield general Merino, according to a new report from FootballTransfers. Although negotiations between the two clubs have yet to reach an advanced stage, mainly due to the failure to agree on a transfer fee, Arsenal have been aggressive in luring Merino on a personal basis and are not expected to face too many obstacles in terms of personal terms.
Reports suggest that Merino has clear expectations regarding the length of his future contract, with him hoping to sign a new five-year deal. However, Arsenal, for their part, prefer to offer a three-year contract with a one-year extension option, which constitutes a major point of difference between the two sides in terms of the length of the contract. Notably, even if Merino chooses to stay with Real Sociedad, the club has no intention of offering a five-year deal, further highlighting the differing stances of the two sides on the length of the contract.
Despite the unresolved issue of the length of his contract, Merino himself is still interested in joining Arsenal, making Arsenal lead the transfer market. Meanwhile, other teams interested in Merino, such as Barcelona and Chelsea, have yet to make concrete moves. Barcelona, while expressing appreciation for Merino, have decided not to make a substantial pursuit this summer given the player's preference to join Arsenal. Chelsea, on the other hand, see Merino as a potential replacement for Gallagher, but have yet to formally intervene in transfer talks.
Merino is entering the final year of his contract with Real Sociedad, which makes him much more attractive in the transfer market. Due to the imminent expiration of his contract, Real Sociedad's position in the negotiations is relatively passive, and the transfer fee is not expected to be too exorbitant. This factor undoubtedly provides more favorable negotiation conditions for potential buyers such as Arsenal.
