Arsenal eye move to sign 21-year-old La Liga star as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen midfield: Reports

Arsenal are reportedly interested in launching a move to permanently rope in Valencia youngster Javi Guerra to bolster their midfield depth.

Guerra, 21, has cemented himself as a crucial starter for Valencia since making his professional debut in January 2022. After helping his boyhood club avoid relegation in the 2022-23 season, he helped them secure a respectable ninth-place finish last campaign.

According to Football Insider, Arsenal scouts have been keeping tabs on Guerra's growth at Valencia for a while. They are keen to add the Spaniard to their ranks as Jorginho and Thomas Partey are both in the final 10 months of their respective deals at the Gunners.

However, Mikel Arteta's side are unlikely to lodge a bid to sign Guerra in the winter transfer window. They are expected to wait until next summer before launching a move for the nine-cap Spain U21 international, who reportedly has an exit clause in the region of £85 million.

Guerra, whose current deal will expire in June 2027, has scored five goals and laid out one assist in 55 overall appearances for Valencia.

Chris Sutton shares prediction for upcoming Tottenham Hotspur-Arsenal league contest

In his column for BBC, ex-Chelsea striker Chris Sutton predicted a 3-2 win for Tottenham Hotspur in their Premier League home encounter against Arsenal on Sunday (September 15). He wrote:

"[Declan] Rice and [Martin] Odegaard are such big losses that I can't help but feel it will have an impact. Arsenal have got quality players like Jorginho and Thomas Partey, but they are missing two of their best players. They will get chances in this game and I expect them to score – they won this fixture 3-2 last season and drew 2-2 at the Emirates, and I am expecting more of the same."

Sutton, who scored thrice in 39 games for Chelsea as a player, added:

"This time, however, I am going to back Spurs. I know everyone who is reading this will probably go for a draw but I am not going to do that. Instead, I am going to stick my long neck out and say 'Angeball' will come out on top. Spurs have dominated games and created chances this season, but they just need someone to stick the ball in the back of the net and I have a feeling that will happen for them here."

While Arsenal are currently sixth in the 2024-25 Premier League table with seven points from three matches, Spurs are 13th with four points.

The Gunners have registered five victories, one draw, and one defeat in their past seven league meetings against Ange Postecoglou's side.