Ivan Fresneda has been linked with a move away from Real Valladolid, with Fulham and Arsenal are keen on signing him.
According to a report from Spanish outlet El Desmarque, Arsenal and Fulham will battle it out for the signature of 18-year-old Spanish defender Ivan Fresneda in the upcoming windows.
The talented young right-back is rated highly around Europe, and he has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs in recent weeks. It will be interesting to see if Arsenal can fend off competition from their Premier League rivals and secure his signature.
Arsenal have been using Ben White as their right-back this season. But the former Brighton & Hove Albion defender is primarily a centre-back, and Arteta could certainly use a quality right-back in the coming months. The 18-year-old Real Valladolid defender certainly has the potential to play for a top club. And a move to Arsenal could help him develop faster and fulfil his potential.
The Spanish defender has made six league appearances for the Spanish club this season, and he currently has a release clause of around €30 million. The Gunners must look to snap him up as soon as possible because his release clause will rise to €45 million once he has made 22 appearances.
On the other hand, Fulham could use a quality young right-back as well and Fresneda would be a superb acquisition for them. The Londoners have Kenny Tete and Kevin Mbabu as their right-back options right now. But Fresneda certainly has the potential to grow into a better player than both of them.
The 18-year-old is a prodigious talent who could prove to be a bargain signing for both clubs in the long run. Meanwhile, Fulham have also shown interest in other right-backs, including AS Roma defender Rick Karsdorp.
As for the pursuit of Fresneda, Arteta has shown a willingness to nurture young talent since taking over at Arsenal. And he could give the Spanish defender the opportunity to fulfil his potential with regular football at the Emirates. But the 18-year-old is likely to get ample opportunities at Fulham well.
It remains to be seen which of the two Premier League clubs come forward with the reported €30 million bid required to sign the defender. It seems unlikely that Real Valladolid will sanction his departure for a fee below his release clause.
