'Does Mikel Like Mikel?': Arteta Remains Tightlipped On Arsenal's Bid To Sign Mikel Merino

The Premier League 2024-25 season is about to begin and Arsenal are all set to open their campaign for new season against Wolverhampton Wanderers aka Wolves on Saturday at the Emirates Stadium. 

Heading into the new season, Arsenal are looking to challenge Manchester City for the title and have identified midfield as a point of improvement. Arsenal have been linked with Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino. However, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta remains tight lipped on the club's interest in Spanish star. 

Mikel Arteta tight lipped on Merino interest

Ahead of Arsenal's game against Wolves, Mikel Arteta took charge of his first press conference of the Premier League season. In his first press conference, Mikel Arteta was cheekily questioned by a reporter "Does Mikel like Mikel?" trying to get a snoop on Arsenal's position on Mikel Merino. 

But, Mikel Merino was aware of what was being tried and made it clear that he was not going to talk about other players.

“If I like myself you mean. You know that I cannot talk about any other player," said Mikel Arteta. 

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Mikel Arteta further revealed that the club's main priority was to make their players feel important and if an opportunity arises then bank on it to sign new players.

"I've said this season we have two objectives - the main one and the most important one is to make sure we are still very very much in love with our players and find ways to improve them. Because that's the main thing and then okay if there are certain opportunities in the market to improve the squad then certainly we have to look at that. That's what we've been trying to do," said Mikel Arteta. 

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Arsenal's pursuit of Mikel Merino

According to Fabrizio Romano, the negotiations between Arsenal and Real Sociedad are at final stages to get the Mikel Merino deal sealed over the weekend. 

Fee among the two clubs has been agreed as the clubs are working on the structure of the deal.