Transfer Centre

Arsenal to target Benjamin Henrichs, Jeremie Frimpong over Ivan Fresneda?

By Andrew Delaney, Reporter | 05 July 2023

Arsenal to target Henrichs, Frimpong over Fresneda?

Arsenal are reportedly set to target either Benjamin Henrichs or Jeremie Frimpong, after opting against a move for Real Valladolid's Ivan Fresneda.

Arsenal have reportedly turned their attentions away from Ivan Fresneda and towards a move for either Benjamin Henrichs or Jeremie Frimpong at right-back this summer instead.

That leaves the door open for Barcelona to capitalise and land the young Spanish full-back with Arsenal set to look elsewhere.

Following Real Valladolid's relegation from La Liga, Fresneda is highly likely to make a move to a bigger club after a breakthrough campaign during 2022-23 in which he made 22 league appearances.

Therefore, with Arsenal said to be out of the running, The Mirror claims that Barcelona are set to move in for the 18-year-old, hoping to acquire him for less than his €20m (£17.1m) release clause.

Barca may need to wait though, as Fresneda is currently on international duty with Spain's Under-19s and played 90 minutes in their recent win over Iceland at the Under-19 Euros.

For Arsenal, a right-back remains on the transfer wishlist though, after Ben White was forced out into that position for much of last season, away from his usual role in the centre.

RB Leipzig's Benjamin Henrichs in action on June 3, 2023 © Reuters

Florian Plettenberg claims that RB Leipzig's Benjamin Henrichs is a player Mikel Arteta could turn to add strength to their defence after a positive season in the Bundesliga.

Henrichs was a regular under Marco Rose as Leipzig qualified for the Champions League once more and won the DFB-Pokal at the Olympiastadion in early June.

Germany manager Hansi Flick was also impressed, calling up the 26-year-old for their recent trio of friendly matches in the June international break, with Henrichs featuring in them all.

Henrichs still has two years left on his deal at Leipzig, and as an important player, may be hard to lure away from the club, especially given the outgoings expected at the German Cup holders this summer.

Dominik Szoboszlai has already left to join Liverpool and Josko Gvardiol has been heavily linked with an imminent move to Manchester City, so Leipzig may be reluctant to sell a third first-choice player in one window.

Henrichs is not the only right-back being linked with a move to the Emirates though, as former Celtic man Jeremie Frimpong has also been touted as a possible alternative.

Jeremie Frimpong in action for Bayer Leverkusen on August 6, 2022 © Reuters

German outlet Bild claims that after deals are completed for Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber, Arsenal are set to make a £35m offer for the Dutch full-back.

Frimpong was a former youth player at Man City while Arteta was assistant to Pep Guardiola, so the Spaniard will already have seen plenty from the 22-year-old who enjoyed a productive season at Bayer Leverkusen.

The attack-minded defender contributed to 15 goals as he was ever-present for Leverkusen in the Bundesliga last season, helping them to a sixth-place finish.