Manchester United defender Antonio Valencia could join Arsenal this summer, according to the player's father. The Ecuadorian has been been at Old Trafford since 2008, when he joined from Wigan Athletic. While he was originally a winger, he has been used almost exclusively as a full back in the past few seasons.
With his contract expiring at the end of the season, there appears to be no offer forthcoming from the Premier League club. He will be available on a free transfer, and apparently there is no shortage of interest.
Luis Valencia, who also acts as his son's agent, has revealed that there are a number of European clubs interested in his signature this summer. He told El Universal:
He definitely will not continue in Manchester. He wants a change in the air and the club is not going to renew him either. Like everything in life, everything comes to an end.
Arsenal, West Ham, Inter Milan and one club from China are options, but in football everything is changing. He wants to choose the best option, but above all he wants to sign a contract for two years.
Not for the money, but for peace and hopefully, he told me, be hired by a team that fights for important things.
Arsenal are certainly in need of defensive reinforcements this summer, but bringing on board a past his prime Valencia would hardly be the wisest of moves. He has looked a shell of his former self during the current campaign, and he has been a non-factor in Manchester due to a mixture poor form and injuries.
Of course, this is Arsenal, so all options are on the table. If Unai Emery is given a restricted transfer budget once again this summer, he could see the United man as a cheaper short-term option.
