Despite rumors that the midfielder is linked to Arsenal, Real Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil is insisting that Mikel Merino “still belongs” to the squad and would be “with the team to the death.”
According to reports originating from Spain on Friday, Merino and Arsenal had reached an agreement in principle for about £30 million. The Gunners are eager to finalize the acquisition of Merino before the transfer deadline.
After David Raya joined from Brentford permanently, Riccardo Calafiori is still Arsenal’s lone summer addition, and Merino has been named as the team’s top midfield target.
Merino was subsequently omitted from Sociedad’s matchday squad for the side’s 2-1 defeat at home to Real Vallecano on Sunday, further fuelling speculation that a switch to the Emirates could be imminent.
At his pre-match press conference on the eve of the clash, Alguacil confirmed that Merino was fit and available but that ‘open negotiations’ with Arsenal were in the works.
Alguacil was again pressed for an update on the situation of both Merino and Martin Zubimendi prior to Sociedad’s loss and the Spaniard was unequivocal with his response.
‘Both are here, one is not on the list and the other is in the squad,’ the Sociedad head coach told Spanish media.
‘They still belong to Real and both are going to be with the team to the death.
‘Nothing changes, I said it yesterday.
‘Those of us who are here will go all out to win the game. And then we’ll see who is there for the next one.’
Alguacil said he simply had to press ahead with ‘what we have’ while the transfer market remained active.
‘As long as it’s open, we’re all waiting, but that’s part of football,’ he added.
‘I take it as it comes. I prepare for the matches with what we have.’
Mikel Arteta refused to be drawn on speculation linking Arsenal with Merino ahead of his side’s win over Wolves.
‘You know that I cannot talk about any other players,’ Arteta replied when quizzed about a deal for the Spain international.
Pressed more generally about the club’s transfer strategy, the Spaniard added: ‘Before the season we had two objectives.
‘The main one was to make sure that we are very much in love with our players and find ways to improve them because that’s the main thing.
‘Then okay if there are still certain opportunities in the market to improve the squad we have to look at that, that’s what we are trying to do.’