Valencia captain Jose Gaya has encouraged Cristhian Mosquera to ignore strong interest from Arsenal and ‘continue growing’ with the La Liga club.
Arsenal have been keeping close tabs on Mosquera’s progress for some time and tested Valencia’s resolve with an opening bid to lure the young defender to the Emirates in recent days.
But this offer was rejected out of hand by Valencia, with the Spanish outfit refusing to be bullied and holding out for a fee in the region of £17million for the highly rated 21-year-old centre-back.
The Gunners are intent on strengthening at centre-half to provide greater support and competition for William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes next season and Mosquera has emerged as the club’s primary target.
Dean Huijsen had been heavily linked before leaving Bournemouth for Real Madrid earlier this summer, while Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and Roma’s Evan N’Dicka are rumoured to be among Arsenal’s other potential options.
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The north Londoners are not alone in wanting to sign Mosquera, though, and Mikel Arteta’s side may have to beat off competition from RB Leipzig, AC Milan and Premier League rivals Aston Villa for the Spain Under-21 international.
‘I would like them to continue growing here because they can still bring a lot of joy to the fans,’ Valencia skipper Gaya told A Punt when pressed on rumours Cesar Tarrega, Yarek Gasiorowski and Mosquera could all leave the club this summer.
Gaya is ‘excited’ and looking forward to next season, confident Valencia can improve on their 12th-placed finish in the Spanish top flight last term.
‘It is important to start well,’ the Spain international added.
‘We have to try to give everything to have a good year and continue what we did in the final stretch of La Liga.
‘[Our young players] must fight for their dreams because with desire, enthusiasm and work, anything can be achieved.’
Mosquera has just 12 months remaining on his current deal at the Mestalla, but Valencia have the option to extend this contract beyond 2026.
Valencia’s hierarchy wish to insert a release clause of around €35m (£30m) in any new deal, but Mosquera’s camp insist this figure should be no higher than €25m (£21m).
Mosquera joined Valencia’s academy ranks aged just 12 back in 2016 and the Spaniard has gone on to make 90 appearances in all competitions for his boyhood team in that time.
While Mosquera is yet to win any silverware at club level, the youngster was an integral part of Spain’s squad that won gold at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Arsenal are also determined to bolster their attacking options before this summer’s transfer deadline, with Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko at the top of the Gunners’ wishlist at centre-forward.
Out wide, meanwhile, Arsenal are looking at Chelsea’s Noni Madueke, Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, Real Madrid’s Rodrygo and Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon.
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