FC Barcelona had indicated Mikel Merino as its main objective to reinforce the midfield. Given the impossibility of signing players like Joshua Kimmich or Martín Zubimendi due to the high costs of their operations, the man from Pamplona had become the club's favorite to shore up the midfield. However, the culés have put all their attention on landing a 'star' for forward, so the option of the Real Sociedad player went to the background.
Despite this, the midfielder would have made a last effort to try to incorporate him into the squad led by Hansi Flick. The Spanish international's entourage would have contacted the Catalan institution to expedite his options to wear the Barça shirt, but he would like to define his future as soon as possible and, barring a last-minute surprise, he will end up heading to the Premier League.
Can Barça held talks with the player before the Euro Cup and stipulated deadlines to carry out the negotiations, which ended up being diluted by the option of acquiring the services of Nico Williams and Dani Olmo. The two attackers have shown interest in joining the club and the Blaugranas consider that their signings were a priority, 'delaying' Merino's operation until the end of the market and leaving it conditional on the sales and departures that may occur.
This change of plans made Mikel begin to analyze the other proposals he had on the table. The footballer remains firm in his position of leaving San Sebastián this summer, so his entourage spoke with Atlético de Madrid, although in the end it is Arsenal that would have his contract within reach by making a better financial offer to both the gunners' as well as the midfielder.
His exit to the Premier is getting closer and closer
The transfer of the Eurocup champion to the team led by Mikel Arteta is well underway and the only thing missing is the final agreement with Real, which requires around 30 million euros between fixed and variables for the sale of a player whose contract expires next summer. Barça really likes his profile, but Merino wants certainties about his future and the Barça entity cannot give him any guarantees at this stage of the market, so his destination points to London.