Ivan Fresneda, a target for Arsenal, is reportedly prioritising joining Barcelona, who will soon present an offer for the Spaniard.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona and Arsenal are among the clubs keen on signing Ivan Fresneda. And the Catalan giants are preparing the opening proposal to sign the Real Valladolid full-back. The Spanish whizkid has a release clause worth €20 million in his contract. And he is prioritising joining Barcelona in the summer transfer window.
Ivan Fresneda has become the talk of the town following his breakthrough campaign as a senior club-level footballer. The 18-year-old was not the undisputed first-choice right-back for Real Valladolid this past season. But he was a rare bright spot in a forgettable term for the Pucelanos.
The Spaniard has turned out 26 times thus far for Real Valladolid, already amassing over 2,000 minutes of action. And following Valladolid’s relegation from La Liga, Fresneda’s release clause has dropped from €40 million to €20 million. Such a development has captured the attention of several high-profile clubs. And Barcelona and Arsenal are two of his prospective suitors.
Recent reports have pointed to Barcelona being the front-runner to sign the Spanish wonderkid. And Mundo Deportivo has suggested that the teenage sensation has his heart set on joining the Blaugrana. That further bolsters Barcelona’s position in the race to secure Fresneda’s services this summer.
But Barcelona cannot land the 18-year-old full-back without submitting a bid to Real Valladolid. And the Catalan giants are formulating the opening proposal, which will be close to €20 million. This offer will include a lower base fee in addition to add-ons that will take the package close to €20 million. Meanwhile, the report mentions Arsenal as one of the prospective suitors.
But reports in June suggested Arsenal had ruled out a summer move for the Spaniard. And with the versatile Jurrien Timber closing in on moving to the Emirates, the Gunners do not need to pursue Fresneda. But Arsenal could theoretically afford to pay €20 million upfront if they decided to launch the offensive for him.
Nevertheless, Barcelona should be in the pole position to sign Fresneda this summer. And it will be interesting to see if their opening offer does the trick. If not, other suitors like Juventus and Inter Milan might beat them to Fresneda’s signature. An intriguing battle awaits us.
