It's no secret that Barcelona is looking to sign a new defensive midfielder, but for now, it's not a priority. A deal for Nico Williams is the first order of business for the club's sporting department, and they are also making arrangements to bring back Dani Olmo, who will be allowed to leave RB Leipzig for around €60 million.
It means signing a midfielder is unlikely to happen anytime soon. It can not happen to everyone, with Sport reporting that for someone to arrive, a big money sale would need to be made.
At this stage, Mikel Merino is the Barcelona midfielder's preferred target, but the report notes that his arrival will not happen unless Frenkie de Jong leaves – an unlikely possibility, as Hansi Flick is counting on the midfielder Dutch for next season and beyond.
Because of this, Arsenal are now favorites to sign Merino. They are willing to pay 25 million euros to sign the 28-year-old, who will be available for a reduced price because he has only one year left on his Real Sociedad contract. Atletico Madrid are also interested in Merino, but their chances of signing him are slim as things stand.
Personal terms have already been discussed between Merino and Arsenal, and a deal could move quickly once those are agreed. Barcelona he looks increasingly likely to miss out on his top midfield goal, which would be a big blow for the new season.
