Manchester United have reportedly faced obstacles in their attempt to sign Valencia midfielder Javi Guerra, according to reports indicating that the La Liga club is making progress in contract negotiations with the Spaniard.
Javi Guerra is said to have impressed Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim after two productive seasons in La Liga, where he has recorded seven goals and four assists in the last two years.
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The 22-year-old’s contract with Valencia now has just under two years left, and it was reported last month that Guerra turned down the club’s initial offer of an extension, as he was unhappy with the terms.
However, according to Marca, Valencia are not giving up hope of tying their midfield talent to a new and improved deal, and negotiations with the player’s representatives are said to be progressing positively.
Guerra avoids Cristhian Mosquera’s tactics in Valencia negotiations
Valencia have already lost a profile to the Premier League this summer, after promising defender Cristhian Mosquera turned down a new contract and signed for Arsenal.
However, Mosquera made it clear to Valencia that he wanted to join Arsenal, while Guerra has reportedly not had a dialogue with other clubs, as his first priority is to extend his stay at the Mestalla.
Valencia’s latest offer will tie Guerra to the club until the summer of 2029, with a tripling of wages from the 2025/26 season and progressive wage increases over the following three years.
But money isn’t the only factor for the 22-year-old – he also wants guarantees that Valencia will soon be competing at the top of La Liga again, rather than fighting relegation every season.
Guerra’s representatives are neither optimistic nor pessimistic about a deal, but Valencia are growing confident that they can keep hold of the midfielder, who has eight goals and four assists in a total of 89 appearances for the club.
Status of Manchester United’s interest revealed amid Valencia talks
Valencia have already rejected a bid for Guerra, but it came from AC Milan and not Manchester United. The Italian club presented a package worth €20 million (£17.5 million) for the player.
Milan’s offer consisted of a fixed sum of €16 million (£14 million) plus €4 million (£3.5 million) in bonus-dependent add-ons, but it was quickly rejected by Valencia. The Italian giants have yet to come up with an improved offer.
At the same time, United have reportedly “explored the possibilities” of a transfer, but the English club have not made a formal offer, despite their obvious interest.
Guerra was part of Spain’s U21 squad that reached the quarter-finals of this year’s European Championship, where he scored Spain’s only goal in the 3-1 loss to England.
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