Arsenal face race against time to complete crucial transfer

Tom Weber

• Updated: 22 Oct 2024 03:30 CDT
• 3 min read

Napoli and Alex Meret are making progress in talks over a contract extension, according to Italian media.

The Italy international's future has been in doubt for some time. Meret is out of contract next summer and this has attracted the attention of potential suitors.

FootballTransfers exclusively revealed two weeks ago that Arsenal had begun taking an interest in the 27-year-old due to their inability to get Espanyol to lower their demands for Joan Garcia.

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The Spaniard had been Mikel Arteta's top target to replace Aaron Ramsdale after his summer move to Southampton, but Arsenal, despite tabling several bids, ultimately had to move on and loan Neto from Bournemouth due to Espanyol insisting that Garcia's €30 million release clause had to be triggered.

Despite his impressive performances in LaLiga this season, Arsenal are still unwilling to shell out that much on someone who would initially be a backup to David Raya, hence the interest in Meret.

Meret close to extension

At the time, we revealed that it was not yet clear whether Meret, a guaranteed Napoli starter prior to the adductor injury that has now sidelined him, would be willing to join Arsenal to play second fiddle.

If Italian media is to be believed, it seems that he is not prepared to do that. Calciomercato reports that Napoli and the goalkeeper are set to 'move forward together.'

READ MORE: Arsenal quoted hefty price for the 'next Sancho'

The outlet goes so far as to suggest that a contract extension is just 'one step away,' with the final hurdle simply a slight disagreement over the length of the deal. Meret is asking for a guaranteed three-year contract, while Napoli are offering two years and the option for a third.

The report suggests that a complete agreement is only a matter of time, leaving Arsenal with just a small window of opportunity to still try to convince Meret of the merits of a Premier League move. The 27-year-old, however, seems happy to continue being part of Antonio Conte's high-flying Serie A giants.