Arsenal target Cristhian Mosquera has indicated that he would be willing to sign a new deal with Valencia, TBR Football can exclusively reveal.
Arsenal are chasing further defensive cover for the likes of William Saliba this summer, and Cristhian Mosquera has emerged as the ideal candidate.
Of course, Arsenal have had a deal in place with Mosquera for some time now, and the Spain U21 international has previously made it clear to Valencia that he wants the move.
However, Valencia boss Carlos Corberan is imploring owner Peter Lim not to let Mosquera leave.
Although with just one year left on the 21-year-old’s contract, Valencia recognise that the situation could become complicated if he doesn’t sign a new deal.
That being said, TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey understands that Mosquera has indicated to Valencia that he would sign a new deal on one provision.
Mosquera wants a release clause of around £20m included in his contract, which would kick in next summer.
Irrespective of those talks, Arsenal are lining up another offer of their own for Mosquera, close to the £20m mark, which the Gunners consider to be his current value.
Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta do really want Mosquera, but the club obviously have other options in reserve if a fee can’t be agreed.
Unfortunately for Arsenal, Valencia are on the verge of selling another defender, Yarek Gasiorowski, to PSV Eindhoven.
And with Corberan already losing one member of his back line, it’s only going to make Arsenal’s job more difficult.
Praised for his ‘powerful’ style at Valencia in recent years, Arsenal would predominantly be signing Mosquera as a central defender if a deal can be agreed.
However, Mosquera has also played a handful of games on the right for Valencia, and TBR Football understands that Arsenal were very impressed.
Arsenal don’t see the Spaniard as a right-back, but his versatility is obviously a big appeal for Berta and his transfer team.
Of course, Arsenal have recently agreed to terminate Takehiro Tomiyasu’s contract with the club, owing to his terrible luck with injuries.
And perhaps if Mosquera does come in, he could provide back-up on the right if Jurrien Timber and Ben White were both unavailable for the same match.
