Arsenal in a bid to sign Real Sociedad star, Mikel Merino, has hit a snag because of questions over how old he is. A €30m (£25.7m) move for the 28-year-old looked imminent with the Gunners boss, Mikel Arteta, eager to have him at the Emirates Stadium. No bid has been tabled to Sociedad but it was claimed the Spaniard has agreed personal terms with Arsenal.
However, recent updates indicate that the transfer has stalled. No official bid has been submitted to Real Sociedad, even though the two clubs share a positive relationship following Kieran Tierney’s loan to the La Liga side last year. While optimism remains that a deal can be reached smoothly, internal concerns at Arsenal regarding Merino’s age have cast doubt on the move.
Arsenal Having Doubts Over Merino’s Age
Quite a few members in Arsenal’s hierarchy are unsure about Merino’s signing, mainly due to his age. The Gunners in the recent years under Arteta have reformed the squad which has reduced the average age of the squad. According to reports, Arsenal is only at the preliminary stage of discussion with his agents. Moreover, he is one of a few midfield options in the books of both Arteta and Edu. With these age-related issues in mind, there are plenty at the club still pushing for a move for Merino.
He played a vital part during Euro 2024 as Spain managed to lift the silverware. Merino played in all seven Spain matches – scoring a vital goal during extra-time against hosts Germany at quarterfinal stage and coming off bench for extra time again on Sunday. Before his success on the national stage, he had a good season at Real Sociedad where in 45 games, he contributed eight goals and five assists as well. Moreover, Merino led the top seven European leagues in duels won, tallying 326, underlining his defensive strength.
Despite his impressive performances, Merino is in the final year of his contract with Real Sociedad, making the club open to a potentially reduced transfer fee this summer.
Should Merino’s Age Be a Concern?
Merino’s arrival would signal a shift in Arsenal’s recent policy of recruiting young players. However, he is far from being too old for the squad and is at his peak at 28. With one of the youngest teams in the league, Arsenal aimed for the top in the last two seasons. However, they fell short of a few points compared to Manchester City. They are currently in need of a leader which they can expect from Merino who has plenty of experience.
Arteta has already seen the impact that experienced midfielders can have on his group. Jorginho, 32, signed a new deal last season and Partey was the first-choice defensive midfielder for much of the season. The introduction of Merino would also allow Declan Rice to operate further up the pitch, something that seems like a tantalizing prospect for many Arsenal supporters and onlookers.
Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has expressed his belief that Merino’s presence would allow Rice to play in a more forward position. Parlour wishes to see Rice operating further up and prefers the box-to-box midfield role which Merino could take. The Spaniard could offer Arsenal three to five years of high-level performance, providing a bridge for young talents like Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly to develop into first-team regulars.
Merino has both attacking and defending qualities in his play, which could prove to be crucial for Arsenal if Arteta manages to train him accordingly. While the board may raise questions regarding his age, they should pay more attention to his durability for the years to come.
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