Chelsea and Arsenal are interested in signing Sporting CP star Ivan Fresneda
Chelsea, who expressed interest in signing Arsenal target Ivan Fresneda cannot exercise the release clause to recruit him from Sporting Cup, who joined the Portuguese outfit from Real Valladolid.
According to Portuguese publication O Jogo, (h/t Express) President Frederico Varandas affirmed during the club meeting that Chelsea doesn’t have an option to sign the 19-year-old.
He also dismissed reports that Chelsea were attempting to make a move for the right-back. Fresneda has been in demand by many clubs, with Arsenal and Barcelona also keen on signing him, but the Spanish giants brought in Joao Cancelo instead.
Chelsea were also interested in the right-back, and it was thought an offer may be made during the most recent summer transfer window, but so far that hasn’t transpired. Earlier Chelsea owners BlueCo were considering purchasing a stake in Sporting CP, which could help them land the talented right-back, but there hasn’t been a valid update on their buying of the club’s stake.
However, that has been rebuffed by the Portuguese side owner, who signed the 19-year-old for £8 million after losing Pedro Porro to Tottenham Hotspur. Chelsea currently have Reece James and Malo Gusto, and now Marc Cucurella has also occupied that spot, given that James is nursing an injury and Gusto is serving a suspension.
Currently, it doesn’t appear that we need a right-back, but in the future, if James’ injuries don’t stop, we may have to seek one because Gusto won’t be able to handle the right-back area all by himself for the full season and will eventually require a backup. Cucurella’s future at the club is still up in the air; therefore, we may need to hunt for a left-back.
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Knowing that the club is looking to buy stakes at Sporting it could be an easy path to sign Fresneda. However, he is too young currently and needs more years to mature into a proven right-back, but if the chance arises then we can make a move.