Arsenal have opened talks over a defender who might succeed William Saliba.
Ranked at no.3 in FourFourTwo’s listing of the perfect centre-backs on the earth proper now , Saliba has been integral to the evolution of the Gunners’ enchancment beneath supervisor Mikel Arteta and has developed into a frontrunner within the backline.
However with the 24-year-old is now mentioned to be in “concrete talks” with Actual Madrid over an exit from North London, as per a report from French publication L’Equipe , leaving Arsenal and Arteta to plan a future that their finest defender may not be part of.
Arsenal trying to safe a defensive reinforcement, with William Saliba wanting probably for an exit
Mikel Arteta is trying to make investments this summer season (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Regardless of Arsenal’s well-publicised want for attacking reinforcements this summer season, defence could be an space of concern for Arteta after a season wherein the Gunners have been decreased to the naked bones.
Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White, Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori have all spent important spells on the sidelines via harm, with Saliba racking up the minutes as probably the most constant member of the defence.
Arsenal have been stricken by defensive points as soon as once more this season (Picture credit score: Justin Setterfield/Getty Pictures)
Each the Frenchman and his centre-back accomplice Gabriel have contracts expiring in 2027, too – so whereas the precedence for Arsenal is to tie each right down to new offers, there’s the chance that the membership might lose a minimum of one, both this summer season or subsequent.
SER Valencia has reported from Spain that Arsenal have opened talks for Cristhian Mosquera of Valencia , with new sporting director Andrea Berta mentioned to be a fan of the 20-year-old, having tried to signal him whereas at Atletico Madrid .
Mosquera’s agent is reportedly set to tell Valencia of his consumer’s curiosity in becoming a member of Arsenal – and with the Spaniard out of contract in 2026, there’s the potential for the North Londoners to safe their man on a budget.
FourFourTwo understands that with the exit of Kieran Tierney, the potential exits of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior and the unreliability of Tomiyasu and Calafiori fitness-wise, the Gunners are eager to strengthen their backline – however the dedication of main funds to that space of the pitch can be tough, on condition that different areas of the group want reinforcements first.
Cristhian Mosquera is in talks with Arsenal (Picture credit score: Cristian Trujillo/High quality Sport Pictures/Getty Pictures)
Arsenal are nonetheless out there for a backup goalkeeper and two attackers, having all however signed Martin Zubimendi, as per reviews , with defence the following space to handle.
Mosquera would probably cowl Saliba – maybe succeeding him, if the Frenchman does, in truth, depart the Premier League – however might additionally tackle different roles.
As an aggressive centre-back who can defend the channels expertly, Mosquera could also be used as a right-back in Arsenal’s system just like Jurrien Timber’s position, releasing up the Dutchman to play on the left of the again 4 and Ben White to play centrally, as each have achieved previously.
Transfermarkt values Mosquera at €30 million. Arsenal tackle Paris Saint-Germain tomorrow evening when Champions League motion resumes.