Arsenal get emphatic response to transfer bid to leave Mikel Arteta's plan in tatters

Arsenal have seen their opening bid for Valencia star Christhian Mosquera turned down by the Spanish side. The Gunners have identified Mosquera as a potential summer addition, with Mikel Arteta keen to add to his defensive ranks.

It was thought that the centre-back would have been a relatively affordable signing, with Arsenal lodging an opening €19 million (£16.2m) bid to their Spanish colleagues. And Valencia instantly replied.

According to Eldesmarque, the La Liga giants dismissed the Gunners’ offer out of hand. They are determined to keep Mosquera at the club, with boss Carlos Corberan keen to build a new-look side around the 21-year-old.

Mosquera’s current deal at the Mestalla expires next summer but Valencia have an option to extend that by a year. Spanish chiefs are keen to up his release clause to around €35m (£29.9m), albeit his representatives want that to be lower at €25m (£21.3m).

Fresh talks between Arsenal and Valencia are planned, with a bid of around €30m (£25.6m) potentially enough to convince the Spanish side to sell. Arteta’s side have an alternative in the form of Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi but he is expected to fetch far more this summer amid interest from Liverpool.

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Any central defensive addition will have to compete with William Saliba, Gabriel, Ben White and Jakub Kiwior at the Emirates - albeit the latter is among the candidates to leave before the start of next season.

Speaking last season, Arteta sent a message to Arsenal chiefs that his squad needed work if the Gunners were to reduce the gap to Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table. He said: “Obviously we need players because the squad is really short, and on top of that we are losing four or five players that are going to end contracts, and their loans are finished.

“So, we need to be sharp. Again, very disciplined in what we want to do, and make sure that we are strong in the next season.”

Who else should Arsenal sign this summer? Share your thoughts in the comments below

Arsenal’s business is unlikely to stop at centre-back. They are on the verge of sealing deals for Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arrizabalaga from Real Sociedad and Chelsea respectively.

They are also closing in on the signing of Brentford midfielder and captain Christian Norgaard as a replacement for Thomas Partey. A winger and a striker also remain on Arsenal’s shortlist.

Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres are the outstanding candidates for a new forward, albeit talks over both appear to have ground to a halt over recent weeks.

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