Arsenal full-back Nacho Monreal emerges as a surprise transfer target for Real Sociedad

Real Sociedad are reportedly interested in signing Spain international defender Nacho Monreal, according to Noticias de Gipuzkoa.

The La Liga side, who finished 12th in the Spanish top-flight standings last term, have been linked with a summer swoop for the Arsenal full-back ahead of the 2018-19 campaign.

The 32-year-old, who has 22 international caps for his country, scored six goals and provided two assists in 38 appearances in all competitions for The Gunners last season.

Monreal, who joined the North London outfit back in January 2013 following his reported £8.3m switch from Malaga, has netted nine times in 212 games overall for the Premier League club.

Arsenal’s Nacho Monreal in action with Tottenham’s Moussa Sissoko last season.

However, the report claims the Arsenal fan favourite has emerged as a surprise transfer target for Real Sociedad this summer, with the Spaniard highly rated by the club’s sporting director, Roberto Olabe.

Monreal is contracted with The Gunners until June 2019, and is valued at £11.7m.

He is currently on international duty with Spain at the 2018 FIFA World Cups finals, but is yet to feature at this year’s major tournament.

New Arsenal boss Unai Emery has completed two signings so far this summer, bringing in defender Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus) and goalkeeper Bernd Leno (Bayer Leverkusen), whilst loaning out forward Takuma Asano to Hannover.

Written by Dan Church Follow @DJChurch94