Various news reports from Spain have come out this evening to say that Celtic have now joined the race for 18 year old Real Valladolid right back Ivan Fresneda.
Apparently, Everton lead the race for the player’s signature and have already approached the La Liga club about potentially signing the player.
However, European giants AC Milan and Juventus are also interested in the former Real Madrid youth player, along with La Liga rivals Villarreal.
According to the reports, Fresneda has a buy-out clause of 30m euros, although these types of huge buyout clauses are typical for Spanish clubs and doesn’t necessarily mean that that’s the type of money they would be demanding for the player or anywhere close to that.
It seems unlikely to me that Celtic would try to sign another right-back, considering we have three first team right-backs already at the club currently.
However, if the reports are true, the club may look to bring him in as a long term project, perhaps someone thar can be our right back 2-3 years down the line, that would likely depend on what sort of price we would have to pay for the player.
Fresneda has played for Spain U18s and U19s, and if he was to continue to progress through the international age groups and into the full national side, his value would most likely skyrocket.
Personally, with the other clubs rumoured to be interested, it’s a long shot we end up signing this guy, but stranger things have happened in football and it’s certainly one to keep an eye on.
What chance are we going to have in signing young players when they look at our record in them progressing through to the first team,we have lost several young players in the past few years because of this.