Arsenal are now expected to submit a bid for a Real Madrid target, with Mikel Arteta personally keen on securing his signature, according to a report.

Gunners in transfer tussle with Real Madrid
While they ultimately came up short against Paris Saint-Germain, the Gunners proved themselves to be a force to be reckoned with by dispatching of Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in the Champions League quarter-final last season.

As such, the Emirates Stadium should be an attractive destination for some top players this summer, with Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi thought to have chosen a move to north London ahead of remaining in Spain and signing for Xabi Alonso’s side.
Arteta is seemingly very keen to strengthen his midfield this summer, with Thomas Partey heading for the exit door, having also set his sights on Brentford’s Christian Norgaard, who has agreed to make the move across the capital.

However, Arsenal are also battling Madrid for the signature of a centre-back, namely Valencia’s Cristhian Mosquera, with a report from The Guardian revealing Arteta’s side are now hopeful of getting a deal over the line.

The Gunners boss has identified Mosquera as his main target as back-up for Gabriel and William Saliba, and the north Londoners are expected to make an improved offer for his services, having already seen a £16m bid knocked back by the Spanish side.
Personal terms aren’t expected to be an issue, so a deal could be relatively straightforward if the Premier League side are willing to increase their bid slightly, with it previously being revealed that Valencia are looking to receive a fee of just £21m.

Dominant” Mosquera impressing in La Liga
Football scout Ben Mattinson has been left very impressed by the 21-year-old’s performances for Valencia, having praised the youngster for his ability in duels and possession of the ball.

Despite still being in the early stages of his career, the Spaniard has already cemented himself as a key player for Valencia, making 37 appearances in La Liga last season, which indicates the centre-back could make an instant impact at Arsenal.
That said, it will be very difficult to dislodge Gabriel or Saliba in the starting XI, while Jakub Kiwior also impressed in the second half of the 2024-25 campaign, playing “exceptionally well” against Real Madrid, according to Martin Keown.

As such, bringing in a new centre-back shouldn’t be a priority for Arsenal, but signing Mosquera would provide them with greater strength in depth, in order to compete on all fronts next season.

Arsenal are **intensifying efforts** to sign **Cristhian Mosquera**, the highly rated **Valencia centre-back**, in a direct transfer battle with **Real Madrid**, according to *The Guardian*.

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### 🔎 **Who is Cristhian Mosquera?**

* **Age**: 21
* **Position**: Centre-back
* **Club**: Valencia
* **Nationality**: Spanish (born in Spain, of Colombian descent)
* **2024/25 Stats**: 37 La Liga appearances
* **Strengths**:

* Aerial dominance
* Calmness in possession
* 1v1 defending
* Positional awareness
* Described as “**dominant**” and mature beyond his years, Mosquera was a standout for Valencia in what was a defensively solid campaign.

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### 💼 **Arsenal’s Offer & Valencia’s Stance**

* Arsenal already **submitted a £16m bid**, which Valencia rejected.
* **Valencia want £21m** (€25m) to sanction a sale.
* Arsenal are expected to **return with an improved bid** imminently.
* **Personal terms** have already been informally agreed, so the transfer hinges on agreeing a fee.

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### 🤝 Arteta’s Involvement

* Mikel Arteta has **personally identified Mosquera** as his **top centre-back target** to bolster squad depth behind **Gabriel** and **William Saliba**.
* The move shows foresight: Arsenal are preparing for injuries, rotation, and long-term development.

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### 🔄 **Arsenal’s Centre-Back Situation**

* **Starters**:

* William Saliba
* Gabriel Magalhães
* **Backups**:

* Jakub Kiwior (performed well late in the season)
* Jurrien Timber (can also cover at CB when fit)
* Takehiro Tomiyasu (versatile but injury-prone)

Arteta wants **four high-level centre-backs** for rotation across the Premier League, Champions League, and domestic cups. With Kiwior occasionally covering left-back and Timber recovering from long-term injury, depth is thin.

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### ⚔️ **Real Madrid vs Arsenal**

* **Real Madrid** are also tracking Mosquera as part of their defensive succession plan.
* However, their focus remains on signing **Lille’s Leny Yoro** and potentially **bringing Rafa Marin back**.
* Arsenal’s progress with personal terms and readiness to meet the asking price gives them a **decisive edge** at this stage.

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### ✅ **What This Means for Arsenal**

If completed, this deal:

* Strengthens defensive depth
* Future-proofs the backline with another top young Spanish talent
* Reflects Arteta’s increasing influence in recruitment
* Adds a physically and mentally ready La Liga defender who can step in immediately if needed

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Would you like a projected **2025/26 Arsenal defensive depth chart** if Mosquera joins?