Arsenal are hoping to recruit young Valencia defender Hugo Fernandez, according to reports.
Esportbase claim that the Gunners are one of three Premier League clubs who have “shown official interest” in the 18-year-old.
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Fernandez has not made an appearance for Valencia’s first team yet, but he has started to play senior football in recent weeks.
The teenager has featured for the club’s B side in the Spanish third tier, having played two matches since the turn of the year.
That is likely one of the reasons why the Gunners have taken a keen interest in Fernandez’s progress.
Which clubs are battling to sign Fernandez?
Esportbase say that both Chelsea and Manchester United have also made it known that they want to buy Fernandez.
It is believed that the latter has been pushing the hardest to secure the centre-back’s services, but a lot depends on who is willing to match Valencia’s demands.
Fernandez has been described as one of the crown jewels of the club’s academy, so they won’t let him leave without a sizeable fee being paid.
Arsenal do have a good relationship with Valencia
It shouldn’t be forgotten that sporting director Andrea Berta managed to snap up Cristhian Mosquera for a reasonable price from the same club last summer.
That suggests Berta has good contacts, which he could use again to buy Fernandez, but it does seem like this deal could be harder to pull off.
The player has signed a contract which gives Valencia an option to extend his stay until 2029. Furthermore, even though every contract signed in Spanish football has a release clause included, Fernandez’s one is said to be high. That means there is no guarantee that the centre-half will be leaving the Mestalla anytime soon.
Read more about the Arsenal First Team Squad for 2025/26 here