Arsenal may have to decide whether to sign Ivan Fresneda or Weston McKennie as they look to add a third signing to Mikel Arteta's squad. The Gunners have already secured deals for Leandro Trossard and Jakub Kiwior this month for just under £50million.
Sporting director Edu Gaspar had spent the start of the January transfer window trying to sign Mykhailo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk. Chelsea hijacked Arsenal's move for the Ukrainian winger forcing the north Londoners to wrap up a deal for Trossard instead.
Kiwior became the second arrival at the Emirates Stadium after completing a £21million switch from Spezia, adding depth in defence heading into the second half of the season. Roy Keane has urged the Gunners to be 'cautious' with their transfer business, but it looks as though Edu is now set to make a move for a third signing before Deadline Day.
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According to The Athletic, Arsenal have already agreed personal terms with Fresneda, with Borussia Dortmund having arranged a similar deal for the Spanish defender. Juventus are hoping to move McKennie on this month to raise transfer funds and enter the race to sign Fresneda, as per La Gazzetta dello Sport.
A new central midfielder is one of the Gunners' priorities and it seems Edu now has a choice to make ahead of deadline day: sign Fresneda or make a move for McKennie and risk Juventus signing the 18-year-old defender instead. Juve are willing to sell the American midfielder and would accept an initial fee of between £17.5million and £22million plus add ons.
The Athletic report added that Arsenal had agreed a £13million fee with Real Valladolid for Fresneda. Arteta has plenty of options to select from in the full-back positions with Kieran Tierney and Oleksandr Zinchenko competing for a place on the left, whilst Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu continue to fight over a starting spot at right-back.
This may see the Gunners switch their focus on securing a deal for McKennie and add more quality in depth to Arteta's midfield options. There has not been any concrete interest in the American from Arsenal so far this month, but with a week to go until the transfer window slams shut, anything can happen.
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