Following more negotiations on Wednesday night, Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad is almost signed by Arsenal.

Merino, 28, has been a target for the Gunners all summer after their initial £21.5 million offer was turned down.

Merino, a former Newcastle player, scored the game-winning goal in Spain’s 2-1 quarterfinal victory against Germany last month to help them win Euro 2024.

Over the previous six years, the Real Sociedad star has played 242 times for the Basque club and earned 28 caps for La Roja. 

Arsenal’s sporting director, Edu, has been in Spain to advance negotiations with the 28-year-old, as Mail Sport revealed last week. A £30 million proposal is expected to be sufficient to sign the player.

With one year remaining on his deal, Merino was left out of Real Sociedad’s starting lineup for their La Liga debut against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday. In light of transfer rumours, Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil stated that this was “the best solution.”

If a deal is finalised, Merino will join Arsenal as their second summer addition following the £42 million acquisition of Bologna’s Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori last month.

The Merino deal is moving forward at the same time as Arsenal is almost certain to transfer Eddie Nketiah to Nottingham Forest for a reported £30 million.

The youth graduate of the Gunners has scored 38 goals in 168 outings for the team. On Monday, Mail Sport revealed that Arsenal had turned down Forest’s initial £25 million proposal.

The striker has been allowed to leave the Emirates after falling down the pecking order and saw a move to Marseille fall through earlier this summer after the French side refused to meet Arsenal’s asking price.

Meanwhile, Gunners midfielder Charlie Patino is heading to Deportivo La Coruna for £1m plus a hefty sell-on clause.