Arsenal: £13m star now unlikely to sign at the Emirates | OneFootball

Arsenal target Ivan Fresneda ‘looks like he might stay’ at Real Valladolid until the end of the season at least, talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook has told GiveMeSport.

The highly-rated 18-year-old has been linked with a handful of top clubs from across the continent in recent weeks, including the Gunners, but a January switch now appears to be unlikely.

Arsenal transfer news – Ivan Fresneda

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano previously disclosed that Arsenal were expected to take the next step in negotiations for Fresneda following interest from Borussia Dortmund.

It was claimed that Dortmund were ‘pushing’ to get a deal for the full-back over the line with Valladolid and that the La Liga outfit value him at €15 million (£13.2m).

However, Romano has since provided an update on Fresneda’s situation, stating that the teenager ‘will stay’ at the Estadio José Zorrilla ‘unless there are twists in the final hours’ of the winter window.

The Spain Under-19 international still has two and a half years remaining on his current contract, meaning Valladolid are under no pressure to sanction his sale.

A summer move is still on the agenda for the talented right-back, though, and it seems as though he has a bright future ahead of him.

What has Crook said about Fresneda?

When asked if Arsenal’s interest in Fresneda depends on the future of Cedric Soares, who has been linked to Fulham, Crook told GMS that he doesn’t know if the two potential transfers ‘are related’.

He said: “I don’t know if the two are related, but it looks like he might stay now and assess his options at the end of the season.

“Obviously, he’s got interest from Dortmund as well, and Newcastle have been sniffing around. So, I think he’s just decided for the time being that maybe the summer is a better time to make a move.”

Do Arsenal need Fresneda?

If Soares does depart the Emirates Stadium this winter, then Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta may feel the need to bolster his defensive options.

Takehiro Tomiyasu would be left as the only natural right-back in the north London outfit’s first-team squad, although central defender Benjamin White has filled in admirably throughout 2022/23.

Nevertheless, with Arsenal sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League table and into the knockout stages of the Europa League, Arteta will need a big squad to call upon in the second half of the season.

The league leaders have already seen two bids rejected by Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo, and Fresneda could prove to be another transfer target who escapes their grasp.