Arsenal are plotting a bid to capture Valencia centre-half Cristhian Mosquera as the club prepare for the possible departure of William Saliba.
The Gunners are expected to prioritise a move for an elite centre-forward this summer having faced widespread scrutiny for entering the 2024/25 season without signing a proven No.9.
But Mikel Arteta is also keen for defensive reinforcements to help close the gap on the newly crowned champions, Liverpool, ahead of next season and work is underway with a view to strengthening the squad from front to back.
While Dean Huijsen is attracting strong interest from the north Londoners, it’s understood Chelsea have stolen a march on their rivals and are the favourites to reach an agreement with Bournemouth for the 20-year-old Spaniard.
Roma centre-half Evan Ndicka, 25, is also being closely monitored by Arsenal and talks are in place over a potential deal for the Ivory Coast international, who is reportedly available for a fee in the region of (£25-34million).
Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
The latest name to be linked with a move to the Emirates is Mosquera. The 20-year-old has established himself as the most promising young defenders in La Liga over the last two seasons and is being courted by several top teams.
According to Spanish outlet Cadena SER, Arsenal have set their sights on Mosquera as one of their key ‘objectives’ for the summer and club chiefs have begun working on an offer for the £17m-rated Spain Under-23 international.
It’s claimed Mosquera’s agent will meet with Valencia officials to help speed along transfer negotiations and the Gunners are said to be ‘confident’ of striking an agreement.
The report adds that Mosquera hopes to join a club competing in the Champions League next season and Valencia are resigned to the fact their player has no intention of extending his contract.
Mosquera – who is also on the radar of both Atletico Madrid and Villarreal – has just one year remaining on his current deal at the Mestalla.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Reports emanating out of Spain last week claimed Real Madrid had stepped up their pursuit of Saliba after making the Frenchman their primary defensive target for the summer.
Madrid president Florentino Perez is said to be ‘rolling up his sleeves’ as the club prepare for an all-out assault to prise Saliba away from Arsenal’s clutches.
But facing the media ahead of Arsenal’s defeat to Bournemouth, Arteta insisted Saliba remained ‘happy’ in north London and a key part of his plans going forward.
Asked if he was able to rule out the prospect of Saliba making way amid mounting speculation of a switch to the Bernabeu, Arteta told reporters: ‘I leave those kind of things more for [sporting director] Andrea [Berta] 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.’
The Arsenal head coach added: ‘Obviously it’s our negotiations and things that have to take time and process and 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.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.