Ivan Fresneda is set to decide between Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund today, with both clubs agreeing on terms for the player.
Real Valladolid right-back Ivan Fresneda has been strongly linked with a move to Arsenal over the last week or so, but it seems Monday is decision day for the young defender.
Guillermo Rai of The Athletic reports in David Ornstein’s column that Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund have both agreed terms to sign the player for a fee of €15m (£13.2m), with the plan for Fresneda to return to Valladolid on loan until the summer.
A number of other clubs had been chasing Fresneda, including Newcastle United, but at this point it’s down to just Arsenal and Dortmund.
Rai adds that both clubs have offered the player similar wages, and it’s now up to him to choose.
With a decision expected before the end of the day, we should soon know which way Fresneda is leaning.
Arsenal have the advantage of near-guaranteed Champions League football next season, with Dortmund sitting sixth in the Bundesliga compared to the Gunners’ table-topping campaign.
Both clubs regularly field very young sides, with each of them naming a lineup with an average age below 25 at the weekend. Perhaps it could come down to which league the right-back prefers to play in.
This follows a report from Fabrizio Romano over the weekend, claiming Arsenal were in serious talks over a move for Fresneda and that there was a chance the player could complete a transfer this week.
The 18-year-old was dropped to the bench on Saturday due to the transfer speculation, having started and completed 90 minutes in each of Valladolid’s previous four league games.
Fresneda has made 12 appearances for Real Valladolid in La Liga and the Copa del Rey this season.