England's post-Kane era finally looks far more rosy

Santos, Doak & eight best Premier League loanees of the season

How it feels to beat Lionel Messi

Why Man Utd & Liverpool both want Argentine teen Soler

Top 25 African players of the 21st century - ranked

BBC wants Kemp in new digital role after Lineker's MotD exit

How to watch Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson from anywhere

Amorim told he's already made his first mistake at Man Utd

Ex-Man Utd ace says Mainoo shouldn't be in Amorim's starting XI

Mbappe-Deschamps dispute rumours threaten to derail France

Ronaldo stunner the cherry on top for five-star Portugal 

Where's Leo?! Messi invisible as Argentina upset by Paraguay

Lionesses star Kelly shares BTS MTV Awards photos

Manchester City

Manchester United

Liverpool

Arsenal

Chelsea

Other

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Arsenal and Sociedad in talks over Merino</li><li>Midfielder could move to London in £29.8m deal</li><li>Has already agreed personal terms with Gunners</li></ul>

Arsenal in advanced talks for Mikel Merino as Gunners close in on £30m transfer for Real Sociedad star

Copa del Rey

Jove Espanol

Real Sociedad

Premier League

Nottingham Forest

The Gunners are in advanced talks with the Basque club over a deal for the Spain international, according to <a href="https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/premier-league-transfer-news-tottenham-hotspur-wilson-odobert-chelsea-jq536lwj0" target="_blank">The Times</a> and are close to an agreement over a £29.8 million ($39m) transfer fee. The midfielder has already reached a personal agreement with the club over a contract.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Merino has entered the final 12 months of his deal at Sociedad and <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/arsenal-make-mikel-merino-top-transfer-target-wrapping-up-riccardo-calafiori-deal-barcelona-target/bltc7b7207a5043f0f2" target="_blank">had been linked with a move to north London</a> throughout the summer window. The Euro 2024 winner <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/barcelona-spain-euro-2024-mikel-merino/blt8aaa69caa2bc7601" target="_blank">was also a target for Barcelona</a> but his future appears to lie in England.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The 28-year-old spent a season in the Premier League with Newcastle, having joined initially on loan from Borussia Dortmund before making the move permanent. A year later, he opted to leave St James' Park in order to return to Spain to join Sociedad in 2018.

DID YOU KNOW?

As Arsenal and Sociedad near an agreement, Merino will likely soon leave the Basque region to head to the English capital and complete a transfer. In the meantime, Mikel Arteta's team will open their Premier League campaign with a match against Wolves on Saturday.

WHAT NEXT FOR MERINO?

Arsenal in advanced talks for Mikel Merino as Gunners close in on £30m transfer for Real Sociedad star | Goal.com Uganda

Arsenal are closing in on a deal to sign Real Sociedad star Mikel Merino as the Gunners look to strengthen in midfield ahead of the new season.