Arsenal has reignited their pursuit of young defender Ivan Fresneda following Real Valladolid's relegation from La Liga.
Mikel Arteta had shown keen interest in the 18-year-old right-back during the January transfer window when he sought to strengthen his squad for the title race. However, Valladolid's hefty £35 million price tag had hindered any potential deal. Now, with suggestions that the Spanish club is willing to sell for half of that valuation, Arsenal could have an opportunity to make a formal offer.
Fresneda, highly recommended by Arsenal's scouts, is a promising talent, although he remains relatively inexperienced, having made just 26 senior appearances for Valladolid since being released by Real Madrid's youth academy at the age of 14.
However, the young defender aligns with Arsenal's strategy of signing hungry, young players with the potential to develop and increase their market value. With a price tag of £17.5 million, Fresneda fits within Arteta's budget as he aims to strengthen the squad ahead of the club's return to Champions League football next season.
While Ben White unexpectedly thrived as a right-back after transitioning from center-half last season, Arteta remains uncertain about his long-term role in that position. Takehiro Tomiyasu provided backup to White until sustaining a serious knee injury in the Europa League defeat to Sporting Lisbon in March. Currently recovering from surgery, the Japanese international is unlikely to be fit for the first couple of months of the upcoming season.
Meanwhile, Cedric Soares has returned to the club following an underwhelming loan spell at Fulham. However, the 31-year-old Portuguese international does not feature in Arteta's plans and is expected to depart this summer.
Arteta is determined to avoid a repeat of last season's title run-in, which saw Thomas Partey deputize as a makeshift right-back while White returned to center-half due to William Saliba's injury. Securing Fresneda's signature would provide defensive cover and allow Arteta to rotate his team without the risk of a late-season burnout.
Source: The Sun UK
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