Gunners bid some €25m short of Valencia’s asking price.
Arsenal’s bid for Vicente Guaita has been ‘laughed off’ by the goalkeeper’s club Valencia, according to Spanish daily Marca.
The Gunners chief negotiator Dicky Law reportedly travelled to Valencia on Tuesday to negotiate for the stopper, after Guaita’s representatives signalled a desire to talk to Arsenal.
The 26-year-old was benched for Los Che’s first La Liga match of the season and Valencia president Amadeo Salvo admitted at the weekend that the cash-strapped Spaniards could sell Guaita.
“If Guaita is going to be a substitute, it would be best to sell him,” Salvo said.
But Law reportedly told Valencia that Arsenal did not have a much money to spend and the Gunners’ offer of between €4 and €5m from the North London outfit left the Spanish club in a state of shock.
It is understood Valencia will only sell Guaita if a club meets his €30m release clause.
Salvo has since changed his tune, stressing that Guaita will not be sold.
“We have no intention of selling him. The sales that we have made have solved the financial shortfall. If he wants to leave, he will have to say as much – say that he does not want to stay,” explained the Valencia president.
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