Arsenal to sanction two academy departures as talks for Euro 2024 winner Mikel Merino remain ongoing

Arsenal’s Hale End graduates Eddie Nketiah and Charlie Patino look set to be on their way out of the Emirates, talkSPORT understands.

And their potential departures will help fund a move for Spain’s Euro 2024 winning midfielder Mikel Merino, with the Gunners locked in advanced talks with Real Sociedad.

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It is believed that Nottingham Forest and Arsenal are close to reaching an agreement for striker Nketiah – days after the Reds had a £25million offer rejected.

Arsenal are looking for a fee of around £30m for Nketiah, who joined the club’s academy in 2015 after leaving Chelsea.

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

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

A desire to be a regular starter has subsequently forced the one-cap England international to look elsewhere, with Forest inching closer to securing his signature.

The ex-Leeds loan star was the subject of heavy interest from Marseille earlier in the window, but the Gunners’ refusal to lower their asking price ultimately led the Ligue 1 side to walk away from the negotiating table.

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

Another Hale End graduate set for an exit is Charlie Patino, with the club agreeing to sell the young midfielder to Deportivo La Coruna for £1m.

Patino, who scored on his Arsenal debut in the Carabao Cup, has featured just 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 chipped in with three goals and four assists for the Welsh side last term.

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Meanwhile, talks are ongoing between Arsenal and Sociedad for Merino with it expected an agreement will soon be finalised.

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

The 28-year-old, who was previously on the books at Newcastle, featured in all seven of Spain’s matches at Euro 2024.

Should he make the move to the English capital, it will bring Arsenal’s summer spending to around £100m following the permanent signings of David Raya and Riccardo Calafiori.

The Gunners are also in dialogue with Wolves over goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, but prefer a permanent transfer as opposed to a loan move.

Ramsdale moved to the Emirates from Sheffield United in 2021 and immediately became Arsenal’s starting goalkeeper.

However, the 26-year-old was dropped to the bench after four league games last season as Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta preferred Raya, with Ramsdale largely consigned to appearances in the domestic cups.

Should Ramsdale move to Molineux, he would compete with Jose Sa for the starting role in Gary O’Neil’s side.

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