How Arsenal's next big transfer decision could back Liverpool into an inescapable dead end

Everything Arsenal do in the summer transfer window is towards the end goal of becoming Premier League champions.

To make that happen, the gap must be bridged between Mikel Arteta's squad and Arne Slot's, and then some, all so that the Gunners can usurp Liverpool, who collected the trophy last term.

The margin between the two rivals was a clear 10 points in the end, simply not good enough for a side who finished their third year as runners-up.

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Working on their own squad, rectifying the shortcomings of last time, through transfers is the surefire way for Arsenal to get ready for the next fight. If the dominoes fall in a way that inadvertently damages the champions' chances in the process, even better.

In the latest wave of rumours circulating the Emirates Stadium it is claimed talks are active in the process to sign Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia.

The central defender, 20, has risen through the ranks of the La Liga club to make 90 appearances in total thus far. Not often does a player so young start all 37 league fixtures in a campaign, but that is already Mosquera's level.

To further assert his talent he is a Spanish Under-21 international and an Olympic gold medallist with his country.

It would therefore be no wonder if Arsenal were intent on making Mosquera their next signing, as it is also no wonder that Real Madrid have allegedly been sniffing around too.

According to Marca, the state of the defender's contract, which expires in one year's time, has put Los Blancos officials on high alert as they work out who will be available on a free transfer in 2026.

The Gunners taking Mosquera off the table now, albeit for a fee, would only serve to push the La Liga giants in the direction of the name that same report says 'takes the cake'.

That would be Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate, 26, who is yet to agree terms beyond the end of the 2025/26 season at Anfield therefore stands to leave. Worryingly for Arsenal's rivals, Foot Mercato have said he intends to run down his contract.

Such a choice would either force the Reds into one of two options - sell Konate now, weakening the Premier League-winning squad with a key starter departing and most likely for a reduced price, or keep hold in the hope that he changes his mind and follows in the footsteps of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.

The risk is that he does not and just emulates Trent Alexander-Arnold by shuffling off to the Spanish capital on a free transfer, leaving Liverpool with nothing in return.

Either way it is a win-win for Arsenal, attempting to get above the Merseyside club as England's top club.

Of course, the situation is not without its threat. William Saliba is another central defender who has been spoken of in rumours about a free transfer to Real once his deal comes to expire in 2027.

It is the job of Andrea Berta to strike a renewal deal at the appropriate time, as has been done with teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly.