Arsenal transfer news: Fabrizio Romano talks Mikel Merino & Eddie Nketiah

As we are now one week away from the Premier League season returning, Arsenal fans heavily anticipate the Arsenal transfer news to heat up. As things stand, the Gunners have signed David Raya, Tommy Setford and Riccardo Calafiori. They have lost Emile Smith Rowe, Albert Sambi Lokonga (loan) and Nuno Tavares (loan). Fabrizio Romano has provided a few updates this week...

Arsenal transfer news: Fabrizio Romano talks Mikel Merino & Eddie Nketiah

Marseille send a new bid to sign Eddie Nketiah

According to Fabrizio Romano on X (formerly Twitter), Marseille have sent over a new bid to sign Eddie Nketiah from Arsenal. This new bid comes just days after their opening bid worth £23.1m, believed to be short of the £30m valuation held by Arsenal, was rejected by Arsenal.

Fabrizio Romano did not share too much information on how much Marseille's new bid is worth but according to the Italian, Nketiah is keen to join Marseille and work with new manager Roberto De Zerbi. Marseille are happy to re-enter talks with Arsenal, but they will not be forced into conditions out of their comfort zone. They do have other options, after all.

It is worth noting that Eddie Nketiah is severely out-of-favour at Arsenal. Despite boasting great experience at the club already and being an England international, Eddie Nketiah is not high up in Mikel Arteta's pecking order. In fact, the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and even Leandro Trossard are higher in the centre-forward estimations.

Arsenal remain active in talks to sign Mikel Merino

Fabrizio Romano also provided a great update on Mikel Merino, which Arsenal fans will love. The Italian journalist echoed the rumours that Mikel Merino has agreed personal terms with Arsenal, deeming them true. Now, Arsenal are still active in talks to sign Mikel Merino, for a rumoured fee of over €25m (£21.5m).

Mikel Merino recently won the EURO 2024 with Spain and he's clearly a player who Mikel Arteta admires. Over the last few years, there is a growing sense of when Arteta wants to sign a player, he often gets the player. This was demonstrated most recently by Riccardo Calafiori, who was sold the perfect dream by Arteta, and even turned down some European superpowers to join Arsenal.

Atletico Madrid and Barcelona would like to keep Mikel Merino in La Liga, however, they have been informed of Mikel Merino's preference to join Arsenal, as per Fabrizio Romano.

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