Arsenal 'agree' on next signing after Calafiori as Arteta gets green light to 'step up his pursuit'

Secret figures at Assortment are all in arrangement that their next off summer season target will distinctly be Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino, according to reports.

The Artillerymans ended up the irreparable settling of David Raya from Brentford after he impressed while on finance last season at the Emirates Arena.

And presently Bologna centre-earlier Riccardo Calafiori is calculated to be their 2nd settling of the summer season transfer abode window wearing widespread reports connoting he is calculated for a contractor at some determinant this week.

Chatting earlier this week, Fabrizio Romano authenticated that the Calafiori offer was ‘here we go’ and that a offer to Assortment would distinctly be ended up quickly.

Romano wrote in his Ensnared Offside column: “It’s last but not the awfully least ‘here we go’ for Riccardo Calafiori to Assortment. After a rigorous legend, last night Assortment and Bologna embarked exchanging all the records as the offer is all done and authenticated. The next off answer is to indicator all the records and timetable contractor tests for Calafiori, which will distinctly confiscate place in the US so he can join Mikel Arteta’s group for pre-season there.

On Friday, Romano divulged that Calafiori’s contractor possessed been clutched off and a brand name-newfangled scheme possessed been plunked in place by Assortment to procure the transfer secured.

Romano wrote on X:”Riccardo Calafiori’s traveling scheme has been re-reserved again wearing brand name-newfangled scheme — due to Assortment and Bologna finishing all official records unsociable appropriate presently. Calafiori will distinctly traveling from Roma to London early morning on Saturday. Clinical in London, then traveling to USA.”

And wearing a offer for Calafiori practically sorted, Assortment are changing their focus to perfecting Mikel Arteta’s midfield wearing Real Sociedad’s Merino in their crosshairs.

GiveMeSport case that Assortment are ‘ranked to amenable conversations over a answer’ for Merino as ‘pivot figures behind the scenes have consented that a answer for the Real Sociedad star warns to be prioritised after Riccardo Calafiori’s switch to the Emirates Arena is rubber-marked’.

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Merino starred at Euro 2024 for Spain off the seat on a digit of occasions, rendering seven aesthetic designs on the whole, on the earlier of a courageous project for Sociedad in which he messed around in 32 La Liga reinforces, giving away five goals and three assists.

The report adds:

‘GMS resources have been signaled that Assortment are calculated to carry out call wearing Sociedad imminently as they are anxious to land Merino after onset to revolve their attentions in the standard of pinpointing their next off priority target after the finer veracities of the offer for Calafiori have been ironed out.

‘The Artillerymans’ motive has been to study the mart and make it feasible for it finalize, resulting in previous targets Douglas Luiz and Amadou Onana relocating to Juventus and Aston Suite respectively, while Newcastle United’s quizing rate for Bruno Guimareas is out of reach and advising Martin Zubimendi to vacate Sociedad is straining.

‘Merino’s Spain colleague Fabian Ruiz is likewise on Assortment’s radar after recording the eye wearing his performances at Euro 2024, GMS resources have located out, but the Paris Saint-Germain male is not presently at the optimal of Arteta’s shopping checklist as he seeks an ideal midfield affiliate for Declan Rice.’

Stuart Pearce reckons imminent brand name-newfangled settling Calafiori will distinctly revolve appropriate into an striking complete-earlier at Assortment, he told talkSPORT: “Ben White handled to be a centre-half that revolutionized him appropriate into an striking complete-earlier and I assume Calafiori is one of them.

“He’s one of those protectors that is thankful to innovation wearing the sphere, which he showed at the Euros well. I wear’t assume he will distinctly have also much of a grumble there.”

Pearce added: “The unsociable grumble he can have is as quickly as you’ve obtained to defend those one-on-one instances out wide.

“How nice is he at that? And that is the mark of a nice complete-earlier.”