The transfer window has, so far, not seen an awful lot of action when it comes to Arsenal, despite the efforts of sporting director Andrea Berta
Arsenal transfer target Victor Valdepenas looks set to move to Fiorentina from Real Madrid. In January, the Gunners were linked with a move for the 19-year-old.
However, a move did not transpire and he remained with the Real Madrid Castilla side, the youth developmental arm of the Spanish heavyweights. He made one senior appearance in La Liga for Los Blancos last season, featuring at left-back for 78 minutes in a 2-1 away victory over Alaves.
It was reported the teenager had a £43million release clause in his contract at the Bernabeu. Arsenal will not look to sign him as it appears he’s on his way to Italy.
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According to Sky Sports Italia, Valdepenas looks set to leave Real Madrid to move to the Florence-based side. It understands a verbal agreement has been reached between the European heavyweights and the Serie A team.
Valdepenas is a versatile defender who is more than capable of starring at centre-half or at left-back. Reports from Italy have claimed Real Madrid are demanding to insert a huge £50% sell-on clause in any deal for the Spanish U19s international.
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The Gunners’ interest in Valdepenas was at its strongest in January. It was claimed Mikel Arteta’s side wanted to add another tactically flexible, young defender into the mix.
Arteta’s back-line is built upon players capable of starring at central defence and at full-back. Ben White, Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber, Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie are also players who have featured as a full-back or at the heart of a defence.
At the end of the campaign, reports linking Arsenal to Valdepenas were not as frequent, suggesting the Gunners’ interest in him had waned. Arteta’s side have done little business this season.
Hincapie has made his loan move from Bayer Leverkusen permanent, with the Gunners shelling out £34.5m to the Bundesliga side this summer, while Illan Meslier arrived from Leeds United. Arsenal have also been linked with Bradley Barcola, Morgan Rogers and Julian Alvarez.
The Gunners have allowed Leandro Trossard to join Besiktas as part of a £15.3m plus £1.7m in add-ons deal., while Jakub Kiwior left to join Porto in a £15m deal, having spent the previous season on loan with the Portuguese side.
Gabriel Martinelli has also been linked with an exit from the Emirates Stadium, as has Ethan Nwaneri, who endured a frustrating loan spell with Marseille last season.
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