Arsenal now preparing to accelerate plans to sign £43m Spanish ace
Arsenal are prepared to accelerate their pursuit of Real Madrid wonderkid Victor Valdepenas ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Spanish outlet AS (page 6).
The Gunners have been regularly linked with Valdepenas over the last few months, and AS have today reiterated that the club are ‘most interested’ in the Spaniard.
Valdepenas has also been monitored by Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund since 2024, but Arsenal continue to keep him on their radar ahead of the next transfer window.
AS report that Arsenal will accelerate their plans for the player towards the end of the campaign, but the Gunners are still likely to face a bidding battle with other European sides.
Valdepenas’ versatility may have impressed Arsenal
The 19-year-old is primarily a left-back by trade. His only appearance for Madrid to date came against Alaves (December) on the road in La Liga, where Los Blancos registered a 2-1 win.
Valdepenas played 78 minutes in that game and certainly made a good impression. The youngster completed 94 percent of his passes while winning as many as seven duels.
He also registered three successful tackles and impressed with his high positioning on the left flank. Arsenal will no doubt have monitored his La Liga debut for Los Blancos.
Aside from the left-back position, Valdepenas has played several youth games as a left centre-back. His aerial dominance and ball recoveries have particularly caught the eye this season.
Valdepenas has still been prone to defensive errors, leading to shots. Despite this, Arsenal could be banking on his early potential and could make a formal bid when the transfer window reopens.
There is a release clause worth £43 million in his Madrid contract, but the Gunners should sign him for much less, given he has just one senior appearance to his name thus far.
Arsenal could be willing to negotiate a package worth 50 percent of the clause. If the club were to recruit him, it could mean a positional change for Myles Lewis-Skelly next term.
Lewis-Skelly could be seen as a future midfielder with Valdepenas’ arrival. The academy graduate had plenty of minutes in the centre of the park during his time in the academy.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com
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