Merino is Arsenal's top transfer target

English press reports revealed that Arsenal has made Spanish international Mikel Merino, a Real Sociedad player, its main target in the summer transfer market, after the club came close to announcing the first deal to sign Italian international defender Riccardo Calafiori. Arsenal's name has been linked with the Spanish international player for several weeks, but they have not yet submitted an offer to sign the 28-year-old player. Now the Spanish network "Relevo" has confirmed that Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are monitoring the player, and Real Sociedad has also submitted a new offer for the player but has not accepted it, and Arsenal wants to sign the midfielder. Arsenal seeks to end Manchester City's dominance of the English Premier League after winning a record fourth consecutive title, and signing a player like Merino, along with Calafiori, a Bologna player, is likely to help them achieve this goal. Merino, who is under contract with Sociedad until 2025, began his career at Osasuna before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2016. That move did not work out and in 2017 he joined Newcastle United on loan before making the move permanent the following season. The midfielder struggled in the Premier League but has become a top player at Sociedad. Merino, who helped Spain win Euro 2024 earlier this month, is currently on holiday after impressing for his country.