Arsenal are likely to sign a new central defender during the summer transfer window.
The Gunners were interested in landing Dean Huijsen earlier this year, but the Spaniard chose to join Real Madrid from Bournemouth.
The club have now turned their focus to Valencia’s Cristhian Mosquera and have already failed with an opening bid worth €15 million.
The Gunners plan to return with an improved proposal of €25m including add-ons and remain optimistic of securing an agreement.
Amidst this, reputed journalist Fabrizio Romano reports that Mosquera is ‘very clear’ that he ‘wants to play’ for Arsenal next season.
Valencia have offered Mosquera an improved contract beyond June 2026, but the Spaniard has his sights on moving to the Gunners.
Romano reports that Arsenal are preparing a second offer for the young defender.
Mosquera would be a superb backup centre-back
The 21-year-old has been a key player for Los Che over the past two seasons. He has had a brilliant fitness record, missing just three of the previous 76 La Liga games.
Valencia only finished 12th in the Spanish top-flight last term, but Mosquera was a standout performer. He had a passing accuracy of 91 percent, winning 60 percent of his duels.
Mosquera also made 5.5 recoveries, 3.3 clearances and 1.5 tackles per outing. He has shown a slight weakness in the air, but should improve with age and experience.
He has largely played as a left-sided centre-back, but has also made multiple appearances on the right side. Towards the end of last season, Mosquera operated as a right-back.
Mosquera should be a fine deputy behind William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes next term.
His versatility and huge potential has undoubtedly caught the Gunners’ eye. The player has given the go-ahead for the transfer, and the onus is on Arsenal to secure an agreement.
Valencia are unlikely to keep him as he has entered the last year of his contract. Los Che are probably hoping to delay the deal in hope of a bidding war for their prized asset.
Arsenal need to secure a quick deal to ward off any competition. With Real Madrid reportedly monitoring him, the Gunners can’t afford to haggle over the final fee much longer.
Stat from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com