Transfer Centre

Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur to rival Manchester United in Javi Guerra chase?

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 22 October 2023

Arsenal, Spurs to rival Man United in Javi Guerra chase?

Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United reportedly join Manchester United in the race to sign Valencia midfielder Javi Guerra.

Manchester United must reportedly fend off competition from Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur if they are to land Valencia midfielder Javi Guerra in 2024.

The 20-year-old was only promoted to the first team at Mestalla this summer, but he has been one of Valencia's success stories with three goals and an assist from nine matches.

While still on the books with Valencia's B team last season, Guerra featured in each of Los Che's final 10 La Liga matches, scoring his first goal for the club in a 2-1 win over Real Valladolid in April.

Having cemented a starting role at the back-end of the 2022-23 season, Guerra has continued to go from strength to strength in Valencia's midfield, where he can play as a number six or number eight.

Guerra - who stands at 6ft 1in tall - has also earned four caps for Spain's Under-21 side since making his debut last month, and he is yet to suffer defeat in an international fixture at that level.

Valencia's Javi Guerra celebrates scoring their third goal with Hugo Duro on September 16, 2023 © Reuters

As a reward for his eye-catching progression, the former Villarreal youngster was handed a new contract until 2027 at the end of last season, but Valencia's resolve should still be tested in the coming months.

A recent report claimed that Man United were preparing to submit a £44m bid for the Spaniard's signature, but according to 90min, the Red Devils are not alone in their pursuit.

All of Arsenal, Tottenham, Newcastle United and West Ham United are also running the role over the 2003-born midfielder, and all clubs have had scouts in attendance at recent La Liga matches.

In addition, the quartet are all said to have representatives watching Guerra in action for Spain's Under-21s in a Euros qualifying clash with Scotland in September, where he played 45 minutes in a 1-0 win.

While Man United did not send a scout to keep an eye on Guerra on international duty, the Red Devils remain firmly interested in a deal, while Barcelona have also been credited with an interest.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag pictured before the match on October 21, 2023 © Reuters

Should Valencia accept a hypothetical £44m bid from Man United, Guerra could become Los Che's most expensive departure of all time, surpassing Gaizka Mendieta's £41.9m switch to Lazio in 2001.

However, Guerra's contract with Valencia is believed to include a release clause of £86m, meaning that Los Che are under no pressure to sell their academy graduate in the coming months.

Furthermore, the club's sporting director Miguel Angel Corona recently affirmed that his club have no plans to offload Guerra, hailing the 20-year-old's "enormous potential".

Guerra's efforts have helped Valencia take 11 points from their opening nine games of the 2023-24 season to sit 10th in the table, although they are on a four-game winless streak heading into Sunday's clash with Cadiz.