AS, the Spanish sports daily, are reporting that Real Sociedad are close to making a deal with Arsenal which would see them buy out the club’s 50% sell-on stake in Carlos Vela.

The Mexican has been strongly linked with a move back to London this summer, but now it seems that the Basque side are ready to take full control of the striker’s rights.

The report suggest that they will pay Arsenal a fee of around €11m, having paid €3.5m for him in 2012. Although it’s not 100% confirmed, they say only small details need to be confirmed between the two clubs for the deal to go through.

Last week, the Real Sociedad president, told the press that Arsenal were going to exercise their buy back clause on Vela which would have required him to spend a season with the Gunners before they could sell him, so it appears that some was measure of brinksmanship to force their hand.

Whether any deal would have gone through is up for debate anyway, with Vela assuring the La Liga outfit he would rather stay there than return to London. And with serious interest from Champions Atletico Madrid, it looks as if a Spanish stay is much more likely, whether that’s in the Basque country or the capital.

If the deal does go through, it’s a fine piece of financial business by Arsenal, with fans hoping that money can go to boost the squad where it’s really needed this summer.