The agent of Ivan Fresneda has admitted that a move to Premier League leaders Arsenal could be good for the La Liga and Real Valladolid starlet, speaking to AS, with speculation over the youngster’s future likely to continue over the coming months.
Bad news, Manchester City fans. Arsenal are not going anywhere, any time soon.
This is not only an impressive squad, it is a young one too. Gabriel Jesus, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Magalhaes, Ben White, William Saliba, Emile Smith-Rowe and Aaron Ramsdale are all under the age of 26.
And Mikel Arteta’s willingness to give baby-faced, sometimes unproven players the chance to play a major role in his project will only appeal to up-and-coming talent like Fresneda. As such, giving the Gunners an advantage over many a rival suitor.
Spain U19 international Fresneda will be staying at Real Valladolid until the summer. But, if he can build on his excellent breakthrough season in Spain, you can expect the likes of Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund to return with a vengeance come the end of the season.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal like Ivan Fresneda of Real Valladolid
“(Arsenal and Dortmund) are two great clubs, about which we have favourable opinions. They give youngsters opportunities,” says Luis Bardaji, Fresneda’s representative.
“There have been around thirty teams who have been interested.”
Another of those 30 clubs, meanwhile, was Newcastle United. Head of recruitment Steve Nickson watched Fresneda in action against Real Madrid, with the Magpies entering talks a few weeks later (Northern Echo).
Crystal Palace and big-spending Bournemouth, meanwhile, failed with deadline day approaches of their own (Matteo Moretto).
“Fresneda will be at Real Valladolid until the end of the season,” Bardaji adds. “We want him to have his feet on the ground. And in other teams, he was not going to have the continuity he needs now.
“Over the weekend, we told Real Valladolid that there was not going to be any offer. That he was not going to leave in the winter market. If one day he has to leave, we would like it to be a historic sale for the club.”
Arsenal did complete one new signing before Tuesday’s 11pm deadline; Jorginho arriving on a shock deal from London rivals Chelsea.
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