Unai Emery has confirmed that Nacho Monreal could leave Arsenal before the end of the month after Real Sociedad made a late move to bring him back to Spain.
Reports emerged over the weekend that the 33-year-old has agreed a two-year contract, with the option for a third, with Sociedad, with the Spanish club currently in talks with Arsenal over the transfer.
Monreal was picked to start at Anfield in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Liverpool despite the speculation surrounding his future, though Emery has conceded he could be allowed to leave.
Asked about the latest on Monreal, Emery told reporters at his post-match press conference: ‘He made a very big match, very big match, and he’s a very big professional for us.
‘It’s one issue, we need to speak the next days because in Europe the transfer window isn’t finished yet. But we are going to speak about all the situation, the possibility.
‘It’s the reason I was speaking about it’s not normal we close the window two weeks ago, but in Europe it doesn’t finish until next week. Because the squad is not completely closed for us at the moment.
‘It can leave some players. But we cannot sign another. And it depends a little the next days how we can decide about some circumstance with some players.’
Probed again on whether Monreal could leave, Emery added: ‘With Nacho there is one possibility that’s open and we’re going to speak about that.’
Sociedad are only expected to pay a ‘small fee’ for the left-back, who has started all of Arsenal’s Premier League games so far this season, with Sead Kolasinac likely to come into the team until Kieran Tierney is fit.
