According to the Shields Gazette, Newcastle United are closely monitoring Ivan Fresneda of Real Valladolid and are reportedly planning a bid to bring him aboard in January. The Spanish right-back has only made his La Liga debut in September but has already caught the eye of various clubs including Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus and AC Milan in the past few months.
Fresneda’s Impressive Rise In Spanish Football
Fresneda has worked hard to come through the youth ranks of Real Valladolid and made his senior debut in September establishing himself as a key member of the first-team squad. The talented teenager has made seven appearances for the Spanish outfit but is yet to find the back of the net or register an assist for them so far this season.
The 18-year-old has proven to have immense potential down the right flank based on his average of 2.5 tackles, 1.3 interceptions, 2.8 clearances and 1.5 key passes per game in La Liga. He has even been accurate when distributing the ball from the back, as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 81.7% in the Spanish top-flight (stats via whoscored).
His current contract with the Spanish club is set to run out in the summer of 2025. Hence the Magpies have done well to arrange a £9 million bid for the Spanish whizkid whose release clause is set at £26.58m.
Good Move From Newcastle United Boss Eddie Howe?
Fresneda is a good tackler of the ball and can time his challenges well to secure the ball back for his team in the defensive third. He doesn’t mind putting his foot through the ball when needed and can create some decent chances for his teammates from the wide areas.
Currently, the Spanish youngster is focusing on growing at the senior level. Hence, he will be a decent option for the Tyneside club to consider in the long run. At the age of 18, Fresneda has got enough room to become a real star in European football as long as he continues to improve his game over the coming years. We can expect Fresneda to fight for a regular starting spot at St. James’ Park in the foreseeable future but for now, he would certainly be loaned back to his current employers to work on his game even further.
Furthermore, Howe’s tutelage could be the perfect opportunity to oversee the youngster’s development and get the best out of him at Newcastle over the next few years. There is no denying that Fresneda is a talented prospect to watch out for in the future.
