Arsenal Transfer News Today: Merino CONFIRMED, Romano’s Osimhen BOMB, Arteta's Sterling SURPRISE

Robin Bairner

Updated: 23 Aug 2024 10:43 BST
5 min read

The latest Arsenal football transfer news updates, with the hottest updates on all the potential new signings and sales at the Emirates Stadium, including Mikel Merino, Victor Osimhen and a possible shock signing or two.

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Merino an Arsenal player

Arsenal have reached a verbal agreement with Real Sociedad over a transfer fee for Mikel Merino, leaving the Spanish press to declare that the Spain midfielder is already with the Gunners.

Mikel Arteta’s side have struck terms that will see Merino leave La Real for an initial €33.5 million, with €5m to potentially follow in bonuses.

Marca reports: “Mikel Merino is no longer a Real Sociedad player but an Arsenal player after today.”

The Gunners have talked Real Sociedad down from an asking price that was initially above €40m.

Merino will have to be registered as an Arsenal player by midday on Friday to stand any chance of playing against Aston Villa in the Premier League.

Current ETV

Mikel Merino

M (C)

Real Sociedad

Mikel Merino

M (C)

Real Sociedad

ETV Range

€15M - €25.1M

Sterling a transfer surprise at the Emirates?

Arteta has suggested there could be some surprising movement at the Emirates Stadium before the end of the transfer window.

The Arsenal boss said: “You have to be alert and prepared, because a lot of surprises can come. We will be ready.”

The Gunners are known to be searching for additional firepower in attack, with Victor Osimhen of Napoli and Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP just two of the names linked with a late move to the Emirates.

Arteta subsequently admitted he has "strong feelings" about Raheem Sterling, who is set to leave Chelsea.

"My time with Raheem was exceptional. We built a really strong relationship together. He was unbelievable at that time. He taught me about individuals, how they think, how we support them. He is someone I have really strong feelings about," Arteta said.

Osimhen on or off

Could one of the “surprises” that Arteta is hinting at be Napoli striker Osimhen?

According to a report from Corriere dello Sport, the Gunners are ready to step up their chase for the striker in the closing days of the transfer window.

Osimhen’s future is liable to go down to the wire, with the Nigeria international making clear that he does not want a loan deal because he wishes to break ties with Napoli altogether this summer.

Current ETV

Victor Osimhen

F (C)

Napoli

Victor Osimhen

F (C)

Napoli

ETV Range

€53.3M - €88.9M

The stumbling block has been the Serie A side’s insistence that the player’s €130m release clause is met, yet with the deadline approaching, they are likely to waver from this stance because they cannot afford Osimhen’s €11m-per-year wages.

The striker, meanwhile, has already agreed personal terms with PSG.

And now Fabrizio Romano has poured cold water on the deal.

“There is nothing regarding Arsenal’s reported interest from what I know, and it’s also not about which team are the favourites to sign him, it’s about who can agree with Napoli and with the player,” he writes.

Chido Martin hope gone

Arsenal fans who might have taken heart from the fact that Chido Obi Martin’s signature with Manchester United has not been announced are set to be left disappointed, with the wonderkid forward still poised to join the Old Trafford club.

“For those asking – the deals for Chido Obi-Martin and Samuel Lusale are completely sealed,” AcademyScoop, who broke the initial deal, writes on X.

“The delay being that both remain subject to the Premier League’s ratification process, which can take several weeks, and are commonplace for all deals of this nature.”

Obi-Martin was considered Arsenal’s biggest prospect after scoring 32 goals for the U18s last season.