Arsenal ‘paralyses’ advanced Barcelona transfer by reigniting negotiations for ‘appetising candy’ | OneFootball

Real Vallodolid defender Ivan Fresneda runs up the pitch.

Premier League side Arsenal are looking to beat Barcelona to the signing of Real Vallodolid defender Ivan Fresneda, according to reports.

The Gunners are looking to sign two midfielders, a centre-back, a right-back and a forward this summer with the latter already secured in the form of Kai Havertz from Chelsea.

They are also closing in on one of the midfielders after agreeing a £105m deal with West Ham for England international Declan Rice earlier this week.

And they could now be moving towards a deal for a right-back with Spanish publication Nacional insisting that Arsenal have ‘entered the negotiation’ for Real Vallodolid’s Fresneda.

Arsenal have been mooted as potential suitors for the defender over the past 12 months with one report in February claiming he is a ‘priority’ for Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu.

Nacional adds that the Gunners have ‘paralysed the agreement’ that Barcelona had for Fresneda with the Catalan giants said to be ‘quite advanced’ for his signature.

There are ‘two clear finalists’ for Barcelona as they search for a new right-back for next season with Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo and Fresneda emerging as targets.

Cancelo is Xavi’s ‘preferred option’ but his huge salary makes doing a deal tricky and they have now turned to the ‘appetising candy’ of Fresneda.

After their relegation to La Liga his release clause has reduced from €40m to €20m with Borussia Dortmund and Milan also reportedly interested.

However, Barcelona’s ‘main rival’ is now Arsenal, who have ‘entered fully’, and Fresneda would ‘fit perfectly within Arteta’s project’.

Speaking at the end of May, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano insisted that Arsenal had not made an offer for Fresneda but that they do “appreciate” the defender.

Romano wrote on Twitter: “Arsenal appreciate Ivan Fresneda since January but told they have NOT sent any official proposal, despite reports.

“No concrete negotiation at this stage, race remains open — with Borussia Dortmund interested.”

ESPN pundit Steve Nicol doubts new signing Havertz gets into Arteta’s team next season after an underwhelming 12 months at Chelsea.

“I don’t see how Havertz plays in there. Give me one good reason why he plays in the middle and has to do a little bit of everything. I don’t see it. He couldn’t do the one thing that he needed to do for Chelsea. But you’re going to ask him to do two or three other things,” Nicol told ESPN.

“I wouldn’t have him. Listen, Arteta’s done way more in the game than me. But I don’t see how he plays in the middle of the park. Martinelli’s playing, Saka’s starting. And you’re telling me that Jesus isn’t going to start? Of course he’s going to start.”