Charles Watts has shared that the release clause in Ivan Fresneda’s Real Valladolid contract has ‘halved’ following their relegation from La Liga.
The Arsenal transfer expert shared that Mikel Arteta’s side were keen to sign the 18-year-old in January, but he opted to stay at his boyhood club.
That has since resulted in Ivan Fresneda suffering relegation and the supposed release clause in his contract has gone from ‘£35 million’ to just ‘£17 million’, as Watts told his own YouTube channel
That will surely make interested parties sit up and take notice because the teenage right-back is one of the biggest prospects in Spain.
It’s just a case of whether Arsenal will now push for his signature, even though they have much deeper matters to deal with, such as trying to sign midfield duo Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice.
That was touched upon by Watts, who shared that, if Arsenal were to secure Fresneda’s talents, then more than likely, he would be loaned out again.
“Ivan Fresneda is a very interesting one,” said Watts. “Arsenal were very close to pushing the button for him in January. “They decided against it. He decided against it as well.
“Him and his agent felt that it would be best for him to see the season out at Valladolid. Dortmund were in the running for him in January, as well as Arsenal. There have been other clubs interested in him over the last couple of years as he progresses at Valladolid. He is known amongst the football circles as a young and talented fullback.
“He had a release clause of about £35 million, which is a lot for an 18-year-old. But still, it’s a lot of money for a fullback. But because Valladolid have just been relegated, that release clause according to reports in Spain will now be cut to £17 million. Whether that prompts Arsenal to push the button for him this time, we will have to wait and see.
“When I look at him, you are looking at how you improve your squad, he’s obviously a very talented player. But he’s very young. He has never played in England before. Does he come in and improve your squad for the Champions League and this season? I am not sure. He is very much one for the future. It seems like you sign him, and then you send him out on loan again to play.”
Arsenal should push for Fresneda this summer
Yes, Arsenal are looking for those proven stars as they bid to close the gap and overtake Pep Guardiola’s all-dominant Manchester City next season.
But that doesn’t mean the Gunners shouldn’t look towards the future.
A player like Fresneda would be a smart purchase for the future, and just like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, in years to come, he could blossom into something special because he is showing those signs, at this moment in time.
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