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Arsenal Transfer News: Major Jose Luis Gaya Rumours Emerge Hours Before Deadline
February 2, 2015
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is "believed to be confident" of snapping up a second La Liga defender with the deadline day capture of Valencia wonderkid Jose Luis Gaya.
Alex Harris of the Daily Star says reports on the continent believe the Gunners will swoop for the 19-year-old on Monday, activating the left-back's £13.5 million release clause.
Gaya is a Spain under-21 international and has featured prominently for Los Che this term.
It appeared that Wenger had completed his January transfer business after the arrival of Villarreal's Gabriel Paulista, with the manager confirming, per Harris: "Unless something surprising turns up, we have nothing at the moment."
But it now seems something has turned up in the shape of one of La Liga's most promising talents, and a move for Gaya appears imminent.
Valencia are challenging at the sharp end of La Liga, and Gaya has started 17 league matches, per WhoScored.com, providing three assists for his side and scoring once.
The teenager has impressed with his team, having originally been blooded in Valencia's B side before joining the full squad last season.
Arsenal have been looking to add to their defensive stock since the summer, and the Spaniard would suit the kind of player Wenger wants and needs.
But talkSPORT recently said it was believed Real Madrid would beat the Gunners to Gaya's signature with Los Blancos willing to pay in excess of £17 million to sign the prodigy.
However, Valencia football writer Juan Assouline says Gaya is in line to sign a new deal with his club and will remain at the Mestalla, with a huge release clause added in for good measure:
In other news, Arsenal are on the trail of Atletico Madrid attacker Arda Turan after it was said the player had a falling-out with coach Diego Simeone. Rhys Turrell of the Daily Star says the Gunners will fight it out with Manchester United and Liverpool for the £22 million-rated player.
Newcastle United midfielder Moussa Sissoko has also spoken again about his desire to join Arsenal one day, as reported by Alex Young of Goal.com. Sissoko spoke to beIN Sports about his aspirations, and once again, he name-dropped Arsenal: "Arsenal made me dream when I was a youngster. Patrick Vieira was my idol. I saw myself in him."
But Sissoko did add he is currently happy with the Magpies and did not personally know of interest his dream club might have in him.
Gaya would be a very shrewd capture, with the teenager potentially going on to be Spain's primary left-back for the next decade.
Kieran Gibbs has not progressed into the Ashley Cole hybrid that many thought he would, and even though he still has time and opportunity on his side, Gaya may be the better choice for the future.
Gibbs has also sustained consistent injuries, and Wenger will be concerned his development has hit a brick wall.
It is difficult to say if Gibbs is truly in the European class bracket of top full-backs, but at the very least, Gaya would give him the competition he really needs.