Arsenal make ‘lucrative offer’ for ex-Real Madrid youth dubbed ‘budget Bellingham’

Robin Bairner

• 31 May 2023 15:11 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund are both still interested in Real Valladolid star Ivan Fresneda, according to reports in Germany.

The 18-year-old midfielder has been touted as an alternative to Jude Bellingham thanks to his impressive displays in LaLiga this season, featuring 22 times for his club.

And the teenager could indeed become a direct replacement for Bellingham at BVB, with the England star fully expected to leave for Real Madrid in the summer transfer window.

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If that is to become a reality, though, they will first half to fight off interest from Arsenal, who have made a “lucrative offer” to Fresneda, according to a report from Bild.

Arsenal are known to be looking for two central midfield players this summer. Mikel Arteta will allow Granit Xkaha to leave for Bayer Leverkusen, while he will make an additional purchase to strengthen his existing pool.

FootballTransfers understands that talks for both Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo are progressing well, suggesting these could be the players that Arteta drafts in this summer.

So is another purchase in this area possible?

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How this deal could happen

It should not be ruled out given that Arsenal could offload Albert Sambi Lokonga, who has been an undoubted disappointment since arriving from Anderlecht in the summer of 2021.

Having spent the second half of the season on loan at Crystal Palace, where he featured nine times in the Premier League, it has been suggested that deal could be made possible.

If Sambi Lokonga departs, that could open the door to a third central midfielder arriving at the club, with Fresneda boasting arguably greater potential.

Given Arsenal’s return to the Champions League next term, there is a need to strengthen the depth of the squad, and an arrival the calibre of Fresneda would offer this additional quality but also the prospect of developing into a full-time starter.