Arsenal target Carlos Soler scores goal for Valencia
Mikel Arteta wants to bolster his Arsenal squad with additions from La Liga, according to reports. The manager has shortlisted one target in particular from Spain’s top flight. Arteta likes the look of Valencia’s Carlos Soler, according to Sky Sports, who has a £134million (€150m) release clause.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta wants to make La Liga signings as £136m transfer eyed (Image: GETTY)
The 23-year-old has been a regular for Valencia since 2016-17, having come through the club's academy.
He has made 18 La Liga appearances this season since recovering from an ankle injury, playing both on the left and right sides of midfield while also being deployed centrally.
And with Arteta keen to strengthen the Gunners' midfield, Soler is seen as the kind of box-to-box option to replace Aaron Ramsey.
The Welshman left to join Juventus on a free transfer last summer and while the on-loan Dani Ceballos is well liked, he is thought to be keen to return to Real Madrid.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta wants to make La Liga signings as £136m transfer eyed (Image: GETTY)
Spain under-21 international Soler is therefore an alternative target, with Sky Sports adding that Arteta wants to recruit from his native Spain.
The 38-year-old head coach is expected to have only a small budget to work with this summer before player sales, however.
And so Soler's price may prove prohibitive, especially as he only signed a new contract last December - but it is added that Valencia need to raise funds in order to balance their books.
Los Ches need to bring in more than £36m by June 30 - although it remains uncertain as to whether the transfer window for English clubs will open on June 10 due the coronavirus pandemic.
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But with Arteta looking to bolster his midfield, and Atletico Madrid holder Thomas Partey another reported target, French football expert Julien Laurens insists the Gunners are in talks for Le Havre's Pape Gueye.
The 21-year-old Frenchman would be a far cheaper option for the defensive midfield role than the likes of Partey, with his contract expiring in a little over 12 months.
And Laurens told ESPN FC: “I love him! Absolutely love him. He’s the revelation of Ligue 2, the French second division, at Le Havre.
“We know how good Le Havre have been as an academy, we just talked about Paul Pogba who is probably the best prospect that they had in the academy.
“Pape Gueye has been fantastic in midfield this season, he’s only 21 years of age so he’s very young, people will have to be patient with him.
“But what he’s shown so far in the second division, extraordinary qualities, he’s fantastic at pretty much everything.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta wants to make La Liga signings as £136m transfer eyed (Image: GETTY)
“Because his contract at Le Havre runs out in June 2021, I think they will have to sell him this summer. He will have only one year left on his contract.
“There’s already a lot of clubs that I know are keen on him and in contact with him and his agent and Le Havre as well.
“We’re talking about Liverpool, we’re talking about Arsenal, we’re talking about Manchester United, Manchester City as well.
“They’re all very keen on him and I think he’s a big, big prospect for the future.”