Arsenal Transfers: Release clause for Gunners target revealed after relegation

Arsenal could snap up young full-back target Ivan Fresneda in a cut-price deal this summer following Real Valladolid’s relegation from La Liga.

Valladolid headed into the final day needing to beat Getafe and for other results to go their way, but they could only draw against their fellow relegation contender which consigned them to the drop.

18-year-old Fresneda played 22 times during the club’s ill-fated return to the top flight, and the Spaniard’s performances have attracted interest from several top European clubs, including Arsenal.

The Gunners were linked with a move for Fresneda in January, but a move never came about with Valladolid determined to keep a hold of him as they fought to stay in La Liga. Borussia Dortmund are also interested in signing the teenager, and all potential suitors would’ve been emboldened by Valladolid’s relegation.

Release clause for Gunners target revealed after relegation

Fresneda was destined to leave the Spanish club at the end of the 2022/23 season even if they stayed up. Valladolid’s demise to Serie B renders his exit an inevitability, and his release clause has been halved as a result of the relegation.

According to Fabrizio Romano (via @afcstuff), Fresneda’s release clause is now just €20m and the transfer guru expects the full-back to leave Valladolid for even less than that this summer.

The reports will only intensify the race between Arsenal and Dortmund for the full-back’s signature, with the Gunners yet to make a formal proposal to the Spanish club.

Fresneda, who has previously labelled Mikel Arteta a ‘great coach’ and has spoken about his admiration of the Spaniard’s project in north London, has been regarded as a player who could potentially perform the demanding inverted function within Arteta’s system. The full-back is technically proficient and excellent in the build-up phase.

While not a priority area of need, Arsenal require further depth on the right side of their defence and have been linked with a couple of talented young full-backs who could potentially compete with Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Fresneda and Galatasaray’s Sacha Boey are two names to keep an eye on once the summer transfer window officially opens.