Arsenal could now face competition from Bayer Leverkusen to agree to the transfer of Ivan Fresneda. Yet they may sell another target in Moussa Diaby to sign the Real Valladolid star.
That is according to Kicker, which reports Fresneda is now earning increased interest in the Bundesliga. His performances in La Liga so far this season have captivated a raft of German clubs. It is also not unlikely that he would reject a move to England in favour of game time.
Bundesliga teams would afford Fresneda a greater role straight away than if the right-back moved to the Premier League. Bayer Leverkusen should also have no issues affording Real Valladolid’s price tag to edge rivals Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt and Wolfsburg.
Managing director Simon Rolfes is determined to strengthen the Bayer Leverkusen team in the summer. He will likely have to replace Jeremie Frimpong and Timothy Fosu-Mensah at right-back, as well. So, Die Werkself might sell Diaby to raise funds from a strong position.
BayArena chiefs acknowledge that this summer is their final chance to secure a maximum fee for Diaby. The 23-year-old is only under contract to June 2025 and has scored nine and assisted five goals this term. His haul includes seven goals in 20 Bundesliga appearances.
Bayer Leverkusen may sell Diaby for a transfer of another Arsenal target, Fresneda
Diaby would net Bayer Leverkusen a rich sum as Bild journalist Phillip Arens told Chronicle Live that Die Werkself value the winger at €100m (£89m). Far more than the £13m which The Athletic notes Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund agreed to pay for Fresneda in January.
Arsenal rivalled Borussia Dortmund for Fresneda’s transfer and agreed for him to remain at Real Valladolid on loan. But he chose to stay in Spain until the summer and will reassess his offers on the table. And the right-back’s decision will see him have more teams to pick from.
Clubs are keen on Fresneda, who Real Valladolid boss Pacheta calls ‘fantastic’, with the 18-year-old now establishing a key role. Yet Bayer Leverkusen signing the full-back could see Arsenal secure a transfer for Diaby instead having also targeted the Frenchman in January.
Reports by Sky Sports noted Arsenal approached Bayer Leverkusen to debate a transfer for Diaby. But the Bundesliga team did not respond to the Gunners’ approach for a player that European football expert Kevin Hatchard praises as an ‘exciting, quick and tricky’ forward.
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