According to sources, Arsenal is trying to add young Valencia defender Yarek Gasiorowski to their roster of defensive alternatives.
After Ben White and Jurrien Timber experienced injuries, Mikel Arteta is eager to add another center back, and the highly regarded 18-year-old seems to suit the bill.
Gasiorowski has played for Valencia’s first team four times this season; most recently, he came off the bench in a crushing 5-1 loss to Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu.
He is also a regular for Spain at youth level, featuring 16 times for the under-19 side, and Gasiorowski even scored a hat-trick from centre-back in a European Championship qualifier against Moldova.
AS are now reporting that Arteta and Arsenal are ready to make a move for the young defender.
Reports suggest that Arsenal are keen on signing 18-year-old Spanish defender Yarek Gasiorowski
The youngster made his debut for Valencia this season and has since made four appearances for the La Liga club
Mikel Arteta is looking to add to his defensive options to help bolster a backline that has only conceded 10 goals in the Premier League so far this term
A few seasons back, there were rumors that the north London club was interested in Gasiorowski, but Brexit laws derailed a potential deal.
Rather, the defender has made a name for himself at Valencia, starting his first Copa Del Rey match against UD Logrones at the beginning of November.
Even though he has only made substitute appearances in the league thus far, the Premier League’s biggest teams are still interested in him.
“I’m fulfilling the dreams that you’ve longed for since you were a child, like making your debut with the first team at the club where you grew up,” Gasiorowski said in a statement following his debut against Mallorca from the bench.
‘I remember that in the 50th minute, I went to warm up and it was the 90th minute and it looked like nothing was going to happen. Then, suddenly I saw that Thierry [Correia] couldn’t go on and [Valencia manager, Ruben] Baraja told me to change quickly because he was going to come off. I’ve kept the shirt from that moment.’
Gasiorowski has two years left on his current contract with the La Liga club, and a £17.5million release clause could tempt potential suitors to make a move for him in the near future.
Arsenal’s defence has been weakened by a serious knee injury sustained by summer signing Jurrien Timber
Ben White also missed the recent win against Burnley, with Arteta admitting that the Englishman had been playing with an injury ‘for weeks’
Since Timber suffered a catastrophic knee injury against Nottingham Forest on the first day of the season, Arsenal’s defense choices have been limited.
In addition, Arteta disclosed following the team’s most recent triumph over Burnley that White, a fellow defender, had been sidelined for “weeks” due to an injury, which prevented him from playing in the Clarets game.
As they attempt to catch up to table-toppers Manchester City, Arsenal has the joint-best defensive record in the league thus far this season thanks to regular center-back duo William Saliba and Gabriel. The Gunners have only given up 10 goals in that time.
The arrival of Gasiorowski in the upcoming January transfer window can further strengthen their defense.