Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Arsenal missed out on Ivan Fresneda due to some “issues” where his club did not want to loan him out.
What’s the latest?
The Gunners have been heavily linked with the Real Valladolid right-back throughout the January transfer window. But it looks as though no deal will be completed.
With Cedric Soares possibly heading to Fulham on loan for the rest of the season – a deal that now looks close to being done – Fresneda could have been viewed as a replacement in the squad.
However, it seems as though any deal they tried to get done in January failed to get across the line because they couldn’t offer terms that were agreeable with Valladolid.
While talking about it all on his YouTube channel, Romano said: “Fresneda is a top talent, born in 2004, playing for Real Valladolid.
“Arsenal we’re thinking of him in case the Cedric deal was going through with Fulham, but then they had some issues.
“Also, Borussia Dortmund were thinking of Fresneda – they are always very good with talents.
“But then what happened is that Real Valladolid said no to loan bids. And so the player he’s saying. I think in the summer Fresneda will go to a very important club. I don’t know which one yet but I think he will go to a very important club.”
Missed opportunity?
With Cedric heading off to Fulham, the club are left with Ben White and Takehiro Tomaiyasu as options at right-back so they do have some depth there but one injury to either of those two could have Mikel Arteta sweating.
It remains unclear what exact terms Arsenal offered but there were reports that they wanted to sign him now but loan him back to his current club for the rest of the season.
Clearly, though, whatever they did end up putting on the table wasn’t enough to convince Valladolid to do business. Perhaps they will come to regret that over the coming months but at least the deal isn’t dead in the water just yet.
Indeed, just as Romano points out, the talented youngster will almost certainly be on the move in the summer and so the Gunners will potentially be able to complete a deal in the future.