ARSENAL are ready to offer a Spain Euro 2024 winner their best ever contract, according to reports.
The Gunners are looking to strengthen their midfield in order to give them the final push they need to win the Premier League title after two years of finishing runner-up to Manchester City.
And the player they believe can do that is Real Sociedad star Mikel Merino.
Merino, 28, scored his nations extra-time winner over Germany in the quarter-finals with a stunning header.
But with just one year left on his contract at his club, he is now considering his options.
According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, this has placed both Aston Villa and Arsenal on alert over him.
They will face competition from Barcelona and Atletico Madrid too, with the report claiming Merino has a release clause of £55million (€65m).
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is said to be a big fan of him and is prepared to sanction a deal that would see Merino earn the most lucrative contract of his career, potentially double what is currently on.
Merino had a loan move to Newcastle in the 2017/18 season from Borussia Dortmund before the Magpies signed him permanently and then sold him off to Real Sociedad days later.
A season after his arrival, Sociedad employed the services of then Real Madrid wonderkid Martin Odegaard on loan.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
The pair shared the midfield together that season, with Merino scoring six goals and adding one assist to Odegaard’s seven goals and nine assists from a more advanced area.
After that successful stint Odegaard then found himself heading to north London, initially on loan, before completing a full transfer to the Emirates in 2021.
The one factor which may prove to be a sticking point, is the view of Merino’s current club about his best role.
Long-term Real Sociedad chairman Jokin Aperribay and the board reportedly do not believe Merino meets all the demands for an “8”, and have offered him a contract extension with that in mind.
This may cause a slight headache for Arteta given his Arsenal system deploys two aggressive midfielders in similar roles, last season typically Odegaard and one of Kai Havertz or Declan Rice.
However, given Arteta’s previous successful gamble in converting forward Havertz into the position following his transfer from Chelsea, it may be another roll of the dice the club are willing to make.
Arsenal’s first pre-season fixture takes place on July 24 against Bournemouth in the USA.
After that they will play Manchester United and Liverpool on the tour before two games at the Emirates against Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon, with their season kicking off a week later against Wolves.
ARSENAL TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: All the latest deals and rumours from the Emirates
