Arsenal have opened talks to sign midfielder Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad.
The Spanish club are reconciled to losing the player, who has just one year left on his current contract and who has shown no signs that he is willing to sign a new deal.
That means he can talk to other clubs in January, and, rather than lose him as a free agent at the end of the season, Sociedad prefer than they get the maximum that they can for him now, with a price of ₤25 million the suggested fee.
Relations between Arsenal and the Spanish club are already strong, following the loan deal involving Scottish full-back Kieran Tierney last season, although the Gunners are by no means the only club interested in him.
Both Barcelona and Atlético Madrid are also monitoring developments involving the Spanish international, although the former are primarily focused on the pursuit of Nico Williams.
