Sources: Arsenal in pole position to sign Ivan Fresneda after talks breakthrough
Arsenal are in pole position to make Real Valladolid sensation Ivan Fresneda their third January signing, sources have told Football Insider.
The Gunners have climbed above Borussia Dortmund to be in pole position to land the right-back on a buy-to-loan deal worth around £13million after a breakthrough in talks.
It is believed that both Arsenal and Dortmund have submitted a bid around that mark for the 18-year-old.
Arsenal are now confident of winning the race for the teenager, who has also attracted interest from Newcastle United.
Once the transfer is complete, the rising star will head back on loan to Spanish club Real Valladolid for the rest of the season.
Should the Londoners now finalise a deal, Fresneda will become their third senior January signing after Leandro Trossard and Jakub Kiwior.
Fresneda was signed by Valladolid in 2020 to play for their youth side after he enjoyed previous spells in the academies of Real Madrid and Leganes.
After just a season in the reserves, Fresneda was called up to train alongside the first team in December 2021, making him the first Under-18s player at the club to join senior training since 2014.
Opportunities in the starting lineup proved hard to come by, but after a couple of players were ruled absent or unavailable for a Copa del Rey tie in January 2022, Fresneda was called up to make his debut aged 17.
He had to wait until this season to make his La Liga debut, but Fresneda has since gone on to make 10 league appearances for the Spanish outfit this campaign.
In other news, Arsenal are tipped to complete Declan Rice swap deal after ‘sensational’ update