Arsenal will allow two academy players to leave as negotiations continue for Euro 2024 winner Mikel Merino

Arsenal Hale End graduates Eddie Nketiah and Charlie Patino look set to leave the Emirates, talkSPORT understands.

And their potential departures will help fund the signing of Euro 2024-winning Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino, with the Gunners in advanced talks with Real Sociedad.

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Nottingham Forest and Arsenal are believed to be close to agreeing a deal for striker Nketiah, days after the Reds received a £25million bid. refused.

Arsenal are seeking a fee of around £30m for Nketiahwho joined the club's academy in 2015 after leaving Chelsea.

The 25-year-old first appeared in the North Londoners in September 2017, where he has since scored 38 goals in 168 games in all competitions.

However, Nketiah has spent much of his Arsenal tenure stuck behind the likes of Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gabriel Jesus and now Kai Havertz in the forward pecking order.

The desire to be a regular starter later forced the England international, who played just once for the national team, to look elsewhere. Forest getting closer to getting his signature.

The former Leeds loan star was the subject of strong interest from Marseille early in the window, but the Gunners' refusal to lower their asking price ultimately led to the Ligue 1 side walking away from the negotiating table.

At this stage, talkSPORT also understands that Arsenal have no plans to bring in another striker if Nketiah leaves.

Another Hale End graduate on the verge of leaving is Charlie Patino, with the club having agreed to sell the young midfielder to Deportivo La Coruna for £1m.

Patino, who scored on his Arsenal debut in the Carabao Cup, has only played twice for the Gunners' first team.

He has spent the last two seasons on loan in the Championship at Blackpool and Swansea respectively, where he contributed three goals and four assists for the Welsh side last term.

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Meanwhile, talks continue between Arsenal and Sociedad over Merino and a deal is expected to be reached soon.

Merino, valued at £30-35m, recently turned down an extension from the Spanish club amid interest from Arsenal, and the midfielder is out of contract next summer.

The 28-year-old, who previously played for Newcastle, featured in all seven of Spain's games at Euro 2024.

If he decides to move to the English capital, this will raise Arsenal's summer spending to around £100 million following the permanent signings of David Raya and Riccardo Calafiori.

The Gunners are also in talks with Wolves for goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale but prefer a permanent transfer rather than a loan.

Ramsdale moved to the Emirates from Sheffield United in 2021 and immediately became Arsenal's first-choice goalkeeper.

However, the 26-year-old was dropped after four league games last season as Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta preferred Raya while Ramsdale was largely restricted to domestic cup appearances.

If Ramsdale moves to Molineux, he would compete with Jose Sa for a starting place in Gary O'Neil's side.

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