Arsenal miss out on deadline day move for highly talented Cedric Soares replacement

According to reports, Arsenal missed out on a deadline-day move for Real Valladolid’s Ivan Fresneda.

The Gunners and German club Borussia Dortmund were said to have agreed a fee of £13 million with the La Liga club for the 18-year-old right-back.

Fresneda has established himself as a regular for Valladolid this season, attracting the attention of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta as well as Dortmund, who believed they could have provided a more direct route into the first-team.

Both parties were dealt a setback recently when Fresneda stated that he will remain at Valladolid – though he may have been referring to the fact that he would have been loaned back to the club for the remainder of the 2022-23 season – a clause that the Spaniards were eager to include if they agreed to a sale.

Earlier on deadline day, it was thought that a late deal was still possible, but new reports suggest that the race for Fresneda has ended, with Valladolid rejecting a loan bid and the player more likely to leave in the summer.

Arsenal had been looking for right-back cover, with Cedric Soares heavily linked with a move to Fulham – a deal that may now fall through due to the player’s wage demands.

Arsenal has used Ben White down the right flank frequently this season, and they also have Takehiro Tomiyasu among their ranks.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have made two signings this month to bolster their title challenge, with the Gunners leading the Premier League by five points with a game in hand over second-placed Manchester City.

Jakub Kiwior joined the Emirates in a £20 million deal from Spezia in Italy.

The north London club also signed Leandro Trossard for £27 million from Brighton and is expected to sign Jorginho from Chelsea.