Arsenal have opened a fresh pursuit for a right-back this summer and are tracking Sporting defender Ivan Fresneda, according to reports, as the Gunners prepare to invite offers for Ben White.
Fresneda moved to Sporting in 2023 after earlier being scouted by Arsenal, and The Sun has reported he has now emerged as a target for the north London club. Sporting value the 2023 signing with a reported release clause of €80 million, though people close to the situation expect Sporting could be open to selling for less because the player has two years remaining on his contract.
The numbers underline why Arsenal are looking around. Ben White’s role at right-back and in midfield has made him valuable; the club are expected to invite offers for him this summer, a move that would leave Arsenal needing immediate cover. The club have monitored Newcastle’s Tino Livramento as one possible replacement, and they have also explored a deal for Oscar Mingueza, who will be out of contract at the end of this season and is reportedly being considered by Arsenal among other sides on a free transfer.
Celta head coach Claudio Giraldez provided a snapshot of Mingueza’s profile when asked about his player: "He's a fantastic player. He has a tremendous personality," he said, adding, "I hope he can stay. But we know it will be difficult to keep him. I hope he can have a great career because he still has a lot of room for improvement. I like him a lot." Those comments help explain why Arsenal see Mingueza as a low-risk, potentially high-reward option if they move to replace White without a large fee.
The right-back sweepstakes is occurring alongside bigger defensive theater at Arsenal. Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly listed Gabriel Magalhaes as a target, with Madrid putting him high on a shortlist to refresh an ageing back line and PSG said to be willing to spend without clear limit. Arsenal, however, regard Gabriel as untouchable and would only entertain selling him for a record fee in the region of €100 million to €110 million, a price they expect would be well beyond routine summer negotiations.
There are other speculative strands that could reshape Arsenal’s business this summer. TEAMtalk reported that Arsenal, Chelsea and Aston Villa could all move for Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall if Spurs were relegated; Bergvall is under contract at Tottenham until 2031 and the club are insisting he is unsellable. Meanwhile, an agent involved in talks around another reported Arsenal target, Pio Esposito, told outlets the striker aims to stay at Inter for the next ten years, removing him from immediate consideration.
Those competing stories create a tight market for Arsenal. Sporting’s willingness to accept a fee below the €80 million clause — tied to Fresneda’s two years left on his deal — is the single most consequential development for Arsenal today: it offers a route to reinforce right-back without touching Gabriel or demanding a club-record sale to fund business.
What happens next is straightforward and urgent. Arsenal are expected to test the market for Ben White and will pursue several replacements in parallel: a cheaper free option in Oscar Mingueza, a younger alternative such as Tino Livramento, or a negotiation with Sporting over Fresneda if Sporting signal flexibility. If Sporting hold firm on the €80 million clause, Arsenal will likely prioritise other targets; if they bend, Fresneda could move from a reported target to a signing that closes a clear gap in the squad.
For fans watching Sporting — and for readers tracking Arsenal’s summer moves — the coming weeks will show whether Arsenal choose prudence and a free transfer, gamble on a reduced deal for Fresneda from sporting cp, or attempt a large sale to reshuffle their defence and midfield resources.
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