According to an update by reputed German journalist Florian Plettenberg, Victor Valdepenas is the subject of interest from Arsenal. The Gunners are scouring the market for a young centre-back heading into the summer transfer window. So, the 18-year-old Real Madrid wonderkid has emerged as a target for the North London outfit.
Victor Valdepenas is the latest highly-rated prospect to rise in prominence in Real Madrid’s youth setup. While La Fabrica has not produced as many world-class prodigies as La Masia, it tends to dole out a few youngsters every few years. Raul Asencio has been the latest to establish a foothold in the first-team squad at the Santiago Bernabeu this season.
As for Valdepenas, the Spaniard is a native of Madrid and passed through the academies at Villa Rosa and Rayo Vallecano before joining Real Madrid in July 2018. The 18-year-old has progressed through the ranks in La Fabrica and currently turns out for Real Madrid’s Castilla side.
While the Spanish defender has yet to make his senior bow for Real Madrid, his exploits in age-group football in his homeland have piqued the attention of several well-known clubs across Europe. Arsenal might be among the prospective suitors vying for his signature heading into the summer transfer window.
Arsenal’s interest in Victor Valdepenas is understandable, even though Mikel Arteta has a stacked central defensive unit. While William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are first-choice centre-backs for the North London club, the former is a long-term target for Real Madrid and other European bigwigs.
Saliba will unlikely leave Arsenal anytime soon, but his long-term future remains uncertain. In addition, Jakub Kiwior is eager to leave Arsenal in the summer transfer window. So, several candidates, including Dean Huijsen, are on the Premier League club’s radar, with Valdepenas also a viable target.
While the 18-year-old Spaniard will not immediately become the first-choice centre-back for Arsenal, he has the potential to rise to that stature in a few years. However, the Gunners have kept their options open, with Rosario Central wonderkid Juan Gimenez also on their wishlist.
