Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil has left the door ajar to signing Arsenal fullback Nacho Monreal.

Imanol has acknowledged reports in Spain linking the veteran Gunners defender with a move to San Sebastian.

Going into Sunday's win at Real Mallorca, Imanol was asked directly about La Real's interest in Monreal and refused to rule anything out.

He was quoted by AS: "The arrival of Monreal is what least worries me.

"At the moment I do not contemplate anything, but it is true that until the deadline closes anything can happen.

"Someone comes that we do not expect or someone leaves who we do not expect. We do not know what will happen."

La Real won 1-0 at Mallorca on Sunday courtesy of on-loan Real Madrid midfielder Martin Odegaard's late winner.

Monreal is now well inside the final year of his Arsenal contract.

The defender, now 33, moved to Arsenal six years ago from Malaga. With the Gunners, Monreal has lifted the FA Cup three times, having long been a mainstay with the club.

The veteran featured in Saturday's defeat at Arsenal and afterwards manager Unai Emery acknowledged Monreal's future was in doubt with the European transfer window still wide open.

He stated, quoted by Football.london: "With Nacho the possibility is open. We are going to speak about that."

- updated August 26