It's been a busy couple of weeks for Arsenal.placeholder image
It's been a busy couple of weeks for Arsenal. | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Mikel Arteta is set to have to new first team players added to his Arsenal squad this week.
Arsenal continue to see their summer transfer window spring into life under new sporting director Andrea Berta with two new signings expected this week.
After Madueke, Arsenal are set to add another centre-back to their squad in a real transfer coup. The Gunners had been credited with interest in Valencia star Cristhian Mosquera and that is close to materialising.
Arsenal set to sign Valencia defender
Journalist Henry Winter took to social media to provide an update on that transfer, claiming that the defender is set to arrive at Arsenal before Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, who had appeared to be the next priority for the Gunners. Winter wrote: "Should be a good week for Arsenal. Madueke and Mosquera in. Gyokeres fee virtually agreed, just at the add-on debating stage, plus dealing with agent’s substantial cut (and Arsenal being strong on that point).
"Gyokeres obviously very keen to go to Arsenal (and will need a contrite farewell letter to Sporting). Maybe needs to have another word with his agent - get the deal done. Also busy week on potential outgoings, generating income from Kiwior, Nelson, Trossard, Vieira, Zinchenko."
It’s been widely speculated that Arsenal will pay just £15 million for the 21-year-old, who is thought to be one of the most promising centre-backs on the continent. He is set to sign a contract at the Emirates Stadium until 2030.
William Saliba linked with Emirates Stadium exit
Mosquera started out in football as a winger, known for his speed and strength, before making the move to defence having signed for Valencia at the age of 12. The 6’3” defender holds similarities to Gabriel and William Saliba.
The defender is yet to be capped by the senior Spanish side but has been a regular in their junior teams, winning gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics. It appears unlikely that Mosquera would oust either Gabriel or Saliba from the starting XI, but the latter has been linked with a potential transfer exit to Real Madrid.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was asked about those rumours at the end of the season. He replied: “I leave those kind of things more for Andrea and the club to talk about.
“What I’m certain, because I had a conversation with him, that he’s so happy here, that he wants to continue with us, and what will happen in the future. Obviously it’s our negotiations and things that have to take time and process and [we have to] be on top of them. But I’m quite confident that William is very happy here and that’s the place that he wants to be.”
In other news, Arsenal transfer round-up: Gunners book medical as 'incredible' £43m midfielder considered.
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