Transfer News: Arsenal defender Nacho Monreal set to join Real Sociedad

Spanish full-back Nacho Monreal is reportedly on the verge of sealing a transfer away from Arsenal, with Real Sociedad likely to be his next destination.

As per a report from Spanish publication MARCA, Arsenal defender Nacho Monreal is set to leave the club and return to Spain, as he closes in on a transfer to La Liga outfit Real Sociedad.

Monreal has been with Arsenal since 2013, having joined from La Liga side Malaga. The left-back has racked up 251 appearances for the North London giants, bagging 10 goals and setting up 20 more, winning three FA Cups in the process.

Monreal’s future has been a subject of transfer speculation all summer, more so following the arrival of Kieran Tierney from Celtic in a £25 million deal. With the Scotsman and Sead Kolasinac at the club, it was always likely that Monreal would drop down in the pecking order.

And while the 33-year-old has started each of Arsenal’s three Premier League fixtures in the 2019-20 campaign owing to issues concerning Tierney and Kolasinac, he is likely to drop out of the starting XI once the two are fit and available for selection, which has led to him being linked with a transfer away from the Emirates.

Arsenal manager Unai Emery also dropped a hint Monreal could be on his way out of the club before the European transfer window closes on September 2.

Speaking after the Gunners’ 3-1 defeat to Liverpool on Saturday, the manager said, “Some players can leave but we cannot sign another and it depends a little over the next days how we can decide about some circumstances with some players. With Nacho one possibility is open and we are going to speak about that.”

La Liga champions Barcelona were credited with some interest very early in the summer, but of late Real Sociedad had emerged as a potential destination for Monreal. And, the report from MARCA states that the 33-year-old is on the verge of sealing a transfer to the Anoeta in the coming days.

The report claims that the former Osasuna and Malaga full-back will be signing a two-year deal with La Real, with an option of extending the contract for a third year. The option for a third year will only kick in if Monreal makes a certain number of appearances in his second campaign at the club.

Should Monreal sign for Sociedad, he will have to compete with Aihen Munoz and Kevin Rodrigues for the left-back slot. However, the report adds that the latter could be loaned out in order to make room for the veteran defender’s arrival at the club.

While an agreement between the two clubs is not yet finalised, the move seems to be close to completion, with Monreal’s time with Arsenal set to come to an end.