Spanish daily Marca have reported that Arsenal are preparing to offer Mikel Arteta to Athletic Bilbao this summer.
It looks extremely likely that the Basque side are set to lose Ander Herrera to Manchester United in the coming days after the Basque midfielder passed a medical at United’s training ground on Wednesday and he is likely to be replaced by Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta, who according to Marca, is to be offered to the La Liga club this summer.
Arteta, 32, has one year left on his current contract with the Gunners but calls for him to be sold have been ever present after a relatively unimpressive campaign last season.
The former Real Sociedad man has been linked with a return to former club Everton but it is understood that Arsenal are only willing to sell him to someone outside of the Premier League and are keen to offer him to Athletic Bilbao in the coming weeks.
The Gunners believe that the La Liga club will pay a substantial fee for Arteta, after receiving a fee of £28.7m for Herrera from United.
Arteta has made over 300 appearances in English football, winning just one trophy – the FA Cup in May with Arsenal.