Wantaway Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira reaches contract agreement with Valencia, says agent

The agent of Lucas Torreira has revealed that the Arsenal midfielder has reached an agreement with Spanish club Valencia over a summer transfer.

The 26-year-old moved to the Emirates Stadium in 2018 and fit the Gunners like a glove as he featured in 34 of their 38 Premier League games in his debut season.

Despite another solid display in the subsequent season, Mikel Arteta’s arrival as manager in December 2019 saw the Uruguayan international drop down the pecking order at the club.

Torreira has since been in and out of the north London club, spending loan spells at Spanish giants Atletico Madrid and most recently Fiorentina.

Off the back of an impressive 2021-22 campaign, he was expected to move to the Stadio Artemio Franchi permanently before the Serie A club opted against triggering the buy clause in his loan deal.

With Torreira’s Arsenal future up in the air, his agent Pablo Bentancur has confirmed a potential permanent exit from the Emirates, with Valencia leading the race for his signature.

“We have a pre-agreement with Gattuso for Torreira to play in Valencia,” Bentancur told Spanish news outlet 100% Deporte.

“Today there is an important meeting on this issue. Arteta, the Arsenal coach, wants to have him in the pre-season.”

Torreira showed class in the Serie A last season as he helped Fiorentina secure a place in the Europa Conference League by finishing seventh in the table – their highest League position since the 2015-16 campaign.

The Uruguayan, who scored five goals last term, has been of interest to Lazio and AS Roma, but it appears Valencia are the front runners to sign the wantaway Gunners’ midfielder after ramping up their interest.

Torreira has made 89 appearances for Arsenal since his £26.5 million switch from Sampdoria in 2018, scoring four goals and providing five assists.

He helped the Gunners win the FA Cup and Community Shield in his four-year stint at the Emirates, while he has featured for the Uruguay national team on 34 different occasions since his debut in March 2018.