According to ESPN report, Barcelona is close to signing Real Valladolid right-back Ivan Fresneda, but the agreement is contingent on the Catalan club first creating salary cap space.
Fresneda, 18, was negotiating to join the German club Borussia Dortmund, but Barça’s interest altered the Spain youth international’s summer plans.
Barca is putting the concluding touches on a five-year contract with the player’s camp and is hopeful of reaching an agreement with Valladolid, who were relegated to the Spanish second division last season, according to sources cited by ESPN.
The release clause for Fresneda is €20 million ($21.7 million), but ESPN has been informed by sources that the Catalan club believes the transfer could be completed for roughly half of that sum.
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Fresneda’s breakthrough season in La Liga with Valladolid prompted interest from Dortmund and Arsenal during the January transfer window.
The Bundesliga club’s interest in the player continued through the summer, but the relationship between Barca president Joan Laporta and the player’s agent, Fali Ramadani, has allowed Barca to advance ahead of the competition.
Barca are subject to financial restrictions, as they have exceeded the LaLiga-mandated expenditure limit.
They are restricted to spending no more than fifty percent of any funds they save or acquire, and they must sell current club players before making any more transfers.
Ilkay Gundogan has already arrived from Manchester City as a free agent, and the signing of Inigo Martinez will be disclosed shortly after the Athletic Club defender’s contract expires.
ESPN has previously reported that Barcelona is also in advanced negotiations to sign Athletico Paranaense striker Vitor Roque, while Girona midfielder Oriol Romeu is the primary candidate to replace Sergio Busquets.
Among other clubs, Real Madrid is also interested in Fenerbahce’s Arda Guler, who is also garnering interest from the club.
In the case of Fresneda, sources indicate that the departure of Sergino Dest, who spent last season on loan at AC Milan, could be crucial to the transaction.
The United States defender Dest will return to Barca for preseason training the following week with an uncertain future, as the club is pursuing an exit while he is open to staying.
Julian Araujo, a January acquisition from LA Galaxy, is another right-back who will begin preseason with Barça, but he could also depart this summer, possibly on loan.
Last season, Jules Kounde was Barca’s starting right back, but he prefers to play in the middle of the back four. Sergi Roberto and Alejandro Balde have also featured on the right side of the defense.
