Arsenal ‘find their own Pedri’ as chiefs travel to Spain | Football | Sport
Arsenal’s sporting director, Andrea Berta, is already eyeing up the next transfer window opportunities after a busy summer that saw the Gunners splash out approximately £250million to bolster Mikel Arteta’s squad. Despite injury setbacks, Arsenal have reaped the rewards of their aggressive spending, sitting at the top of the Premier League during the November international break.
However, with a talent-packed squad, Berta faces the challenge of deciding which players to bring in and let go in the coming months. It seems the recruitment team at Arsenal are particularly active in scouting potential new signings. According to Spanish publication Informacion, Arsenal are among several clubs keeping tabs on Elche midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza. The report suggests that club officials have even made trips to Spain to monitor the 20-year-old, who has already clocked up nine La Liga appearances following his club’s promotion last season.
Mendoza’s contract reportedly includes a release clause of €20m (£17.6m), potentially making him a bargain acquisition in future transfer windows. However, Arsenal face stiff competition for his signature, with Manchester City, Real Madrid and Juventus also said to be interested. If clubs needed any further incentive to make a move, they need look no further than Pedri.
The Barcelona midfielder has compared Mendoza’s style of play to his own, highlighting the potential asset these clubs could acquire. But who is Rodrigo Mendoza? He is a 20-year-old midfielder who plies his trade for Elche. The young talent rose through the ranks at the club, making his senior debut in the 2022/23 season during the Copa del Rey. Following relegation to the second division that season, Mendoza was given more opportunities to shine, making 26 appearances in the 2023/24 season and 24 appearances in the 2024/25 season – aiding Elche in securing promotion in the latter. Now back in La Liga, the midfielder is keen to leave his mark, with nine appearances so far and one goal to his credit.
Mendoza has also stepped up to the Spain under-21s national team, where he shares the pitch with Arsenal star Cristhian Mosquera. Despite signing a new contract in August, which runs until 2028, the deal includes a €20m (£17.6m) release clause that could pique the interest of several teams. However, it remains uncertain where exactly he would fit into Arsenal, given the current depth of midfield options available to Arteta.
Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino and Christian Norgaard are all vying for the two deeper roles, while Martin Odegaard, Ebere Eze and Ethan Nwaneri are all eyeing the attacking midfield position. Mendoza is certainly one to watch for the future, and if Arsenal have a strategy in place, they may well make a move after having scouted him.
