Real Valladolid defender Ivan Fresneda is now set to move to Sporting Club De Portugal, having been strongly linked with Arsenal.
The teenager has attracted a lot of interest over the last season after a stunning breakthrough season in La Liga, and Arsenal were reportedly close to a move in the January transfer window.
However, the 18-year-old has now agreed to move to Portuguese side Sporting in the next stage of his career, following Real Valladolid’s relegation from La Liga.
Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that the right-back will move for an initial fee of €9m (£7.7m), a bargain fee considering his reported release clause of £17m, and there will be a 10% sell-on clause in his contract.
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A long-term injury to summer signing Jurrien Timber has meant that Arsenal will likely enter the market for another defender, and Fresneda could have been an excellent addition this summer.
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Although a right-back, Fresneda may have the potential to play on both flanks and has been described as “complete.”
A defender who is excellent in 1v1 situations, he could have been an ideal squad option to rotate with Ben White or Thomas Partey at right-back, or even as an inverted left-back, whilst also developing as a long-term option.
At that price, it will have been a relatively risk-free deal to complete, and if he continues his development at Sporting well, it seems likely that his value will shoot up in the future.
Partey has started at right-back in all three of Arsenal’s league games so far, and whilst it is clear that he was selected to invert into midfield, questions have been raised about his viability in the role. Extra cover in the form of Fresneda could have offered a different option in the role, and even allowed Partey to start in a natural midfield role.
It remains to be seen what Arsenal will now do, but they may come to regret not pursuing Fresneda given his current price.