Arsenal's proposed move for Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino has reportedly been plunged into doubt due to concerns over the Spaniard's age.
Last week, the Gunners were said to have been edging closer to the €30m (£25.7m) capture of the 28-year-old, whom Mikel Arteta is determined to bring to the Emirates.
While no bid had been sent to Sociedad, it was claimed that a verbal accord was set to be reached, and Merino had already struck an agreement with Arsenal over personal terms.
There have been no significant updates on Merino's switch to the Emirates in recent days, though, as a recent report claimed that the Gunners were yet to make an official offer to Sociedad.
The two clubs possess a positive relationship thanks to Kieran Tierney's loan move to La Liga last year, and there was still optimism that a deal could be struck without any trouble.
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Arsenal staff 'have reservations' about Merino age
However, football.london claims that some members of the Arsenal hierarchy hold reservations about a move due to Merino's age, as he is currently in his peak at 28 years old.
Furthermore, the report adds that Arsenal's interest in the midfielder has only got as far as making contact with his agents, and he is just one of a handful of engine room enforcers being looked at by Arteta and sporting director Edu.
While a few people at the Emirates have doubts about a deal for Merino, plenty of others are still said to be in favour of signing the 28-year-old, who was a crucial member of Spain's triumphant Euro 2024 squad.
Merino played in all seven of La Roja's games at the competition, scoring a dramatic extra-time winner in their quarter-final win over Germany and appearing as a late substitute in the final against England.
That continental success came on the back of a productive Euro 2024 campaign with Real Sociedad, where he scored eight goals and five assists in 45 matches, taking his total for the club to 27 goals and 30 assists in 242 appearances in all tournaments.
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However, the former Newcastle United man is in the last 12 months of his contract with Sociedad, who are therefore open to a cut-price sale in the current transfer window.
Should Arsenal be concerned about Merino's age?
While it is true that Merino is older than most of Arsenal's signings and transfer targets under Arteta and Edu, 28 is hardly ancient for a central midfielder, especially one who has shone for club and country in the last 12 months.
Over the past couple of years, Arsenal's maturity has come on leaps and bounds, and bringing in an experienced international performing at the peak of his powers would only help with that further.
Furthermore, ageing midfielders have already proven their worth to Arteta; 32-year-old Jorginho played his way into a new contract last season, while a 29-year-old Thomas Partey was irrepressible in the 2022-23 season and ended last term as the first choice number six.
Merino could very well give Arsenal between three and five years of top-level service in midfield, enough time for young stars such as Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly to progress from academy starlets to first-team regulars, so this is a deal that the Gunners should certainly still pursue.
Ben Knapton
