Arsenal blow in race for starlet with Dortmund closing in on deal for defender

ARSENAL have suffered a blow in their hunt for Real Valladolid prospect Ivan Fresneda.

The Spanish defender has been a long-term target for the Gunners but could be on the move elsewhere during the summer transfer window.

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Borussia Dortmund are reportedly in talks with the LaLiga club, which would see Fresneda move to the Bundesliga giants.

The club are willing to pay up to £17million and reports in Germany claim that Dortmund could announce the signing “soon”.

Whereas, Fabrizio Romano has reported that the clubs are still in negotiations and that there is “no deal in place” for the defender.

Mikel Arteta was keen on the 18-year-old right-back during the January transfer window when he was looking to strengthen his squad for the title run-in.

But any hopes of a deal were scuppered when Valladolid slapped a £35million price tag on the highly-regarded Spanish youth international.

It is now thought that the LaLiga side could be ready to sell for just half of that original valuation, which could open the door for Arsenal to make a formal offer.

Arsenal’s scouts have highly recommended Fresneda, but he is still a relative rookie who has made just 26 senior appearances for Valladolid after being released by Real Madrid’s youth academy as a 14-year-old.

He fits into the Emirates profile of signing hungry young players with the potential to improve and increase their market value.

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And at roughly £17m he would fit within Arteta’s budget as he sets out to improve his options ahead of the club’s return to Champions League football next season.

Ben White proved a surprise success when he switched to right-back from centre-half at the beginning of last season but Arteta is unsure if his long-term future is out wide.

Takehiro Tomiyasu spent most of last season as the backup to White until he suffered a serious knee injury during the Europa League defeat to Sporting Lisbon in March.

The Japanese international is still recuperating from surgery and is unlikely to be fit for the first few months of the new season.

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