Arsenal Poised to Secure Major Midfield Signing as Smith Rowe Heads to Fulham
Arsenal is set to finalize their third major signing of the summer, having agreed on personal terms with a key target.
The move is facilitated by the impending exit of Emile Smith Rowe, who has passed a medical with Fulham.
The Gunners have already secured two significant acquisitions this summer. Goalkeeper David Raya was the first to arrive, having impressed during his loan spell at the Emirates last season. Arsenal activated their £27 million option to buy the Spaniard after his stellar performances.
Additionally, Arsenal strengthened their defense by unveiling Riccardo Calafiori on Monday. The Italian international, who cost £42 million to sign from Bologna, bolsters what is already the Premier League’s toughest defense.
The 22-year-old Calafiori is a versatile left-footer capable of playing as a left-back or a center-back. He is expected to primarily operate at left-back, though he will also provide cover for Gabriel Magalhaes in the left center-back role.
Calafiori will be given the freedom to push forward and move inside into midfield, similar to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s role at Liverpool.
With the goalkeeper and defensive positions addressed, Arsenal quickly turned their attention to bolstering their central midfield. However, before making any moves, the club needed to offload a player, and Emile Smith Rowe is set to facilitate that transition.
Smith Rowe is on the verge of joining Fulham in a deal worth £27 million plus £7 million in add-ons. The homegrown talent has agreed on personal terms with the Cottagers and passed a medical on Tuesday, according to Fabrizio Romano.
With Smith Rowe’s departure imminent, Arsenal has intensified their pursuit of a new midfielder and identified a target in Spain.
According to Romano and reports from Spain, Arsenal has agreed on personal terms with Real Sociedad’s Mikel Merino. The 28-year-old Spanish international has agreed to a four-year contract that will keep him at the club until 2028.
Arsenal has made a verbal offer of €30 million (£25.3 million) plus add-ons for Merino. Although Real Sociedad initially valued Merino at €50 million (£42.1 million), they have lowered their asking price due to Merino’s contract expiring within a year.
Both Romano and Spanish sources suggest that Real Sociedad is likely to accept Arsenal’s reduced bid. Adding to this indication, Real Sociedad is reportedly in advanced discussions to sign PSG’s Carlos Soler as Merino’s replacement, signaling that a deal with Arsenal is close to completion.
If Arsenal finalizes the deal for Merino, it will mark his return to the Premier League. Merino, who has earned 28 caps for Spain over the past four years, previously played for Newcastle United.
Merino joined Newcastle on loan from Borussia Dortmund for the 2017/18 season, with a mandatory purchase clause based on appearance targets, which was swiftly activated.
However, after just one season at St. James’ Park, he was sold to Real Sociedad for £10 million. It was in Spain where Merino’s career truly flourished.
Arsenal Poised to Secure Major Midfield Signing as Smith Rowe Heads to Fulham
