- Mikel Merino has been excluded from Real Sociedad's squad for Sunday's game
- An improved £30m offer looks likely to seal a deal for the Euro 2024 winner
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Arsenal target Mikel Merino has been excluded from Real Sociedad's squad for their LaLiga opener tomorrow.
La Real welcome Rayo Vallecano on Sunday night but there is no sign of Merino, 28, in the squad list.
Arsenal had an initial offer of £21.5million rejected but it is believed an improved bid of £30m will be enough to seal the transfer.
Sporting director Edu has been in Spain to push negotiations along, with the Euro 2024-winning midfielder open to the move.
Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil said: 'I’ve left Merino out of the squad as there are talks with other clubs… and this is the best solution now.'
Arsenal target Mikel Merino has been left out of Real Sociedad's squad for Sunday evening
The Gunners are tabling an improved £30million bid for the midfielder and Euro 2024 winner
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.
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.
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.
Arsenal's sporting director Edu Gaspar has been in Spain to try and complete the transfer
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta will hope the offer helps to land his key summer midfield target
Merino scored the winner for Spain against Germany in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals in July
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.
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