Arsenal are ready to increase their offer to around £30m for Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino. 

Their opening offer of £21.5m for the 28-year old was rejected but he is keen to make the move.

Sporting director Edu has been in Spain to push negotiations along, with the 28-year-old midfielder open to the move.

Merino has one year left on his contract and featured in all seven games for Spain at the Euros.

The midfielder scored Spain's crucial second goal in their extra-time win over Germany in the quarter-finals, with his looping header finding the net in the 119th minute to send them through. 

Arsenal are preparing an improved £30m offer to sign Spanish international Mikel Merino

Merino came on in the closing stages of Spain's 2-1 victory over England in the final to help Spain see out the final minutes.

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The 28-year-old had played 45 times in all competitions last season, scoring eight goals for Real Sociedad.

Merino would represent Arsenal's second major addition to the squad this summer should a deal be completed.

The Gunners have already signed Italian international defender Riccardo Calafiori for £42m, while David Raya's loan move from Brentford was also made permanent.

Merino has experience of playing in the Premier League having spent a single season at Newcastle in the 2017-18 campaign.

He later became a key player in Real Sociedad under coach Imanol Alguacil and featured in LaLiga's Team of the Season in 2022-23.

Overall, he has made 242 appearances for Erreala, playing at least 40 games per season in the last three campaigns.

The former Borussia Dortmund and Osasuna player has scored 36 goals and provided 36 assists throughout his career.

Arsenal's pursuit has been boosted by Real Sociedad convincing their defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi to stay for the 2024-25 season. 

Previously, Mail Sport reported that Zubimendi rejected several big clubs, such as Liverpool, Arsenal, and Bayern Munich.