Arsenal starting to close in on Valencia youngster
Arsenal may be moving closer to making their 3rd summer signing in the form of Valencia’s pacy left winger, Juan Mata.
Only Xavi, Lionel Messi and Daniel Alves got more assists than Mata in La Liga last season and he has already captained the notoriously unstable Valencia at the age of just 23, helping them to third place with 8 goals and 12 assists.
The Gunners are particularly keen in Mata due to the possibility of losing Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas, but Valencia president Manuel Llorente has stated, “Valencia will not sell to any club that wants to buy Mata. The decision is clear and money will not change our position.”
However this contradicts manager Unai Emery’s claim that Valencia might be forced to sell if a big team comes in with the right offer and Arsenal are rumoured to be preparing to do just that by putting £20m on the table.
The £20m offer, if accepted, would be a club record signing for the Gunners, but it is a common fact that boss Arsene Wenger is keen in investing in promising young talent and Mata’s impressive performances in the Under-21 European Championships (where he picked up the Top Assisting Player award) will only boost his desirability.
Will Llorente be forced to eat his words and consider selling Mata when Arsenal come knocking? Or will Valencia keep hold of their hottest star no matter what price is offered?
