Arsenal Transfer News Today: Merino FINAL STEPS, Nketiah deal CLOSE, Ramsdale BOOST, wonderkid EXIT

Tom Weber

• Updated: 21 Aug 2024 20:13 BST
• 4 min read

All the latest Arsenal transfer news, including updates on Mikel Merino, Eddie Nketiah and Aaron Ramsdale.

The Gunners are closing in on a final agreement for the signing of Mikel Merino. After Edu's trip to Spain, it is now reportedly the turn of Real Sociedad's president Jokin Aperribay to travel to London.

In fact, the Erreala chief has already arrived in England to finalise the sale of Merino to the Gunners. The midfielder has been training on his own away from the rest of his teammates and is only waiting for the green light to travel to the UK.

All parties expect the deal to be closed this week. Arsenal are reportedly set to pay €30 million for the 28-year-old, with discussions over the payment structure to blame for the lengthy delay.

READ MORE: Latest Arsenal transfer news

Nketiah close to exit

Eddie Nketiah is increasingly close to leaving Arsenal after all. A transfer to Olympique Marseille collapsed earlier this summer, but the 25-year-old is now poised to move to Nottingham Forest.

According to David Ornstein, Forest are getting closer to Arsenal's €35m-€40m valuation, while Fabrizio Romano reports than an agreement on personal terms has been reached.

The Gunners forward has become their top target, though they are also in talks with Feyenoord over Santiago Gimenez. Crystal Palace hold a long-standing interest in Nketiah but have so far refrained from opening talks.

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Ramsdale to Bournemouth back on

Bournemouth have become a club to watch in the race to sign Aaron Ramsdale. The Cherries were initially in line to receive Giorgi Mamardashvili as part of the deal between Liverpool and Valencia. However, the goalkeeper rejected Bournemouth and will instead remain on loan at Valencia.

This means that the South Coast club now look set to firm up their interest in their former shot-stopper Ramsdale. The Gunners No.2 is keen to leave and has no shortage of suitors.

Wolves saw a loan offer for the goalkeeper rejected, while Southampton also hold an interest. Ajax also previously made a loan bid, but Arsenal are determined to secure a permanent deal.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the feeling in 'the industry' is that Ramsdale will leave Arsenal before the window closes. Joan Garcia is waiting in the wings to join the Gunners once Ramsdale's exit is sealed. The Spaniard has agreed terms but Espanyol have yet to receive a bid for him.

Patino on his way to Spain

In other news linking Arsenal and Spain, academy product Charlie Patino looks set to join Deportivo La Coruna on a permanent deal. After loans to Blackpool and Swansea, the midfielder is close to moving to LaLiga 2.

The Spanish side have tabled a formal bid, though the financial details have not yet been revealed. What is known is that Arsenal will have a sizeable sell-on percentage. The transfer is at an advanced stage but not finalised yet.