Valencia playing a game of renewal patience has cost them their defender Cristhian Mosquera.
The 21-year-old has a contract lasting until June 2026 with the Spanish side and had wanted to sign a renewal and continue his development with Valencia. His club were aware of that but dragged their feet over a renewal, as they have done with several other players.
Valencia appointed Ron Gourlay as their new CEO this summer, and he officially started work on July 1st. The club decided to wait until after that date to offer renewals, and in the case of Mosquera, Arsenal had got there a few days earlier.
The approach from the Gunners managed to turn the defender’s head, and Valencia’s late renewal offer was then rejected immediately, with the player informing his club he wanted the Arsenal move.
Originally offering around €15m, Arsenal have improved their offer to close to €20m. That has been accepted, with Cope reporting Mosquera was left out of training on Monday.
He’s now set to imminently fly to London for an Arsenal medical and complete the formalities of a move.
Other Spanish sources have the fee as €22m.