Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera has reportedly travelled to Asia to join Arsenal’s pre-season tour ahead of his €15 million move to the Emirates Stadium.
The 21-year-old’s transfer to north London has not yet been confirmed by either club, but he boarded a flight from Heathrow to Singapore on Tuesday morning in order to link up with his new team-mates.
The Spaniard is expected to provide cover for William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes next season, with Mikel Arteta eager to bring a new central defender to the club in order to ease the workload currently placed on his first-choice defensive duo.
Mosquera will leave Valencia with 90 senior appearances under his belt after progressing through the club’s academy system.
The Spain U21 international is unlikely to feature during Arsenal’s pre-season friendly versus AC Milan on Wednesday, although he could make his debut for the club against Newcastle United on Sunday if his transfer is formally completed by then.
Arsenal’s summer transfers
Mosquera will become Arsenal’s fifth signing of the summer transfer window when his move from Valencia is officially announced by the club.
Arteta’s side have also completed the signings of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard, Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke in a busy summer for the Gunners, while they are furiously working on a deal for Viktor Gyokeres.
Arsenal are locked in negotiations with Sporting CP amid a dispute over add-on payments. The north London giants will pay an initial fee of €63.5m for the Sweden international, but they are yet to finalise the structure of the €10m in add-ons.
As a result, Gyokeres’ move hasn’t been fully agreed yet and the 27-year-old is growing increasingly frustrated by Sporting’s negotiation tactics.
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