Arsenal ‘ready’ to ‘match’ defender’s £20m asking price; ‘can spend significantly’ more than rivals

Lewis Oldham 06 May 2023 10:44 AM

According to reports, Arsenal are ‘ready’ to ‘match’ Real Valladolid’s asking price for Ivan Fresneda to sign him amid competition from Newcastle.

The 18-year-old has been one of La Liga’s main breakout stars this term. He has made 19 appearances in the league this season.

The Spain U19 international has already caught the attention of clubs around Europe and he could be heading to the Premier League. Speaking in March, he admitted that reports linking him with a move to Arsenal make him “proud”.

“I’m proud, but I always say it: I’m also at a big club, Valladolid,” Fresneda told AS.

“I have always valued studies with a view to the future, beyond football. I am a person who likes to learn languages.”

When asked which top right-backs he admires, Fresneda opted to pick out two England internationals.

He added: “It is a fashionable position that today is valued much more than before and there are real great players. Achraf [Hakimi], Reece James and Alexander-Arnold are three of the ones I like the most.”

Fresneda was linked with the Gunners during the January transfer window and – according to Football Insider – ‘Arsenal are prepared to submit an offer for him this summer’.

The London outfit are primed to ‘reignite their interest in Fresneda and table a bid that matches Valladolid’s £20m asking price’.

Newcastle United and Borussia Dortmund are also ‘interested’ in Fresneda and it is claimed that the Bundesliga side are ‘leading the race to sign him’.

Arsenal are ‘prepared to enter a bidding war’ as Mikel Arteta is a ‘big admirer of the Spaniard’s versatility’.

A separate report from German journalist Christian Falk claims Arsenal are ‘pushing’ for Fresneda and ‘could spend significantly more money’ than Dortmund to sign him.

‘Real Valladolid’s brilliant 18-year-old, Ivan Fresneda, who has a market value of €10m, has become an option for Dortmund,’ Falk wrote for Caught Offside.

‘The right-back has a contract with the Spaniards until 2025 so he would cost around €20m, however, Arsenal are also pushing for his signature and could spend significantly more money.

‘If Dortmund do want to bring the player to the Bundesliga, in order to have enough money for him they’ll need to sell Thomas Meunier.

‘The 31-year-old Belgian has a contract until 2024 but is only third-choice full-back and is also very injury-prone. No wonder that sports director Sebastian Kehl would like to save on his annual €7m salary, whilst also commanding a small fee for his services.’

Arsenal Ivan Fresneda