Arsenal are apparently shifting their focus away from Ivan Fresneda and towards a summer transfer for either Benjamin Henrichs or Jeremie Frimpong at right-back.
With Arsenal looking elsewhere, this opens the door for Barcelona to capitalise and sign the promising Spanish full-back.
Following Real Valladolid’s relegation from La Liga, Fresneda is expected to join a stronger club following a breakthrough season in 2022/23 in which he made 22 league appearances.
As a result, with Arsenal reported to be out of the running, The Mirror reports that Barcelona are preparing to make a move for the 18-year-old, aiming to pay less than his €20 million (£17.1 million) release clause.
Fresneda is currently on international service with Spain’s Under-19s, having played 90 minutes in their recent Under-19 Euros victory over Iceland.
A right-back remains on Arsenal’s transfer wishlist, however, after Ben White was forced to play in that position for much of last season, away from his customary place in the middle.
After a successful season in the Bundesliga, Mikel Arteta could turn to RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Henrichs, according to Florian Plettenberg.
Under Marco Rose, Henrichs was a regular as Leipzig qualified for the Champions League again and won the DFB-Pokal at the Olympiastadion in early June.
Germany manager Hansi Flick was similarly impressed, recalling Henrichs for the country’s latest trio of friendly matches during the June international break.
Arsenal keen on signing Benjamin Henrichs?
Henrichs still has two years left on his contract at Leipzig, and as a key player, he may be difficult to lure away, especially with the outgoings expected at the German Cup holders this summer.
Dominik Szoboszlai has already joined Liverpool, and Josko Gvardiol has been extensively linked with a move to Manchester City, so Leipzig may be hesitant to trade a third first-choice player in a single window.
However, Henrichs is not the only right-back being linked with a move to the Emirates; former Celtic star Jeremie Frimpong has also been mentioned as a prospective replacement.
According to Bild, after completing deals for Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber, Arsenal will launch a £35 million bid for the Dutch full-back.
Frimpong was a Manchester City junior player, and Arteta was Pep Guardiola’s assistant, so the Spaniard will have seen much of the 22-year-old who had a great season at Bayer Leverkusen.
Last season, the attack-minded defender scored 15 goals for Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, guiding them achieve a sixth-place finish.
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