Arsenal have been set a deadline of ‘24-48 hours’ to decide if they want to seal a deal for Real Valladolid youngster Ivan Fresneda or pull out of the running for him.
The Gunners have already added two new faces to their squad in the January transfer window. Leandro Trossard and Jakub Kiwior have been signed for a combined £48m from Brighton and Spezia.
With just a few days remaining of the current window, there could yet be even more signings. Young right-back Fresneda is among those to have been linked with a late switch to the Emirates Stadium.
Reports have suggested that Arsenal have lodged a £13m bid to his current employers ahead of a potential deal, whilst German giants Borussia Dortmund are also firmly in the running to secure his services.
It has been suggested that the Bundesliga side are front-runners having offered Fresneda the chance of more first-team football than Arsenal - the competition at the Emirates Stadium potentially putting the 18-year-old down the pecking order. Meanwhile, Valladolid are thought to be keen on getting the youngster back on loan with Dortmund reportedly willing to match those demands.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Gunners will now spend the next 24 to 48 hours deciding whether they will continue pursuing Fresneda over the closing days of the window. It remains to be seen if they move onto alternative right-backs should they elect to pull out of the race for his services.
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One man who will likely be disappointed to see the Gunners lose out on the young defender is Gunners icon Emmanuel Petit. Speaking to Sporting Post about the prospect of signing him, the Frenchman said: “He’s [Fresneda] powerful and has good technique. He gets forward well and has great energy.”
Fresneda has made 12 appearances for Valladolid this season in what has been a hugely impressive breakout campaign despite his side’s struggles. They remain in the relegation zone following five consecutive LaLiga defeats.
The side and thus Fresneda will next be back in action on Sunday as they host Valencia. That could potentially be the young defender’s final appearance for the club with the January transfer window set to close just a few days after that showdown.
He currently has two-and-a-half years remaining on his contract with the Madrid side. Away from him, Arsenal look to be in the running for Brighton star Moises Caicedo and could hijack Chelsea ’s swoop for the midfielder.
Speaking about talk over his future, he said: "I am focused on Brighton, I am here, I’m playing every day. Things from outside don’t trouble me, nor does it take that focus away because I’m focused only on here.
"I handle [the speculation] well. You hear rumours here and there, but I only try to be focused on the club where I am now, the club which opened the doors for me to be playing every week."
