Arsenal’s pursuit of Real Sociedad’s Mikel Merino could have a devastating impact on West Ham’s transfer plans. The Gunners have agreed personal terms with the Spanish midfielder, with only a fee to be settled. However, Sociedad’s £30 million price tag has initially been rejected.

This development is crucial for West Ham, as transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reveals that the club is interested in signing PSG’s Carlos Soler. But, Sociedad is also keen on Soler, and if they sell Merino to Arsenal, they will make a strong move for the PSG midfielder.

Romano states, “That (Soler) is a concrete option for West Ham… I think he could probably be the next one.” West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui is eager to sign Soler, but the club faces competition from Sociedad. If Sociedad secures Soler, it would be a significant blow to West Ham’s transfer ambitions.

Soler, valued at £17 million, started just 12 Ligue 1 games for PSG last season and is expected to leave the French capital. Romano praises West Ham’s transfer window, saying, “They’ve been fantastic… They’ve been putting a lot of efforts into bringing in these new players in recent weeks.” However, the Merino deal could hinder their chances of signing Soler.