Ivan Fresneda's agent is back in London as the Newcastle United target continues to be linked with a move away from Real Valladolid.
Newcastle, of course, have monitored the right-back and it was notable how head of recruitment, Steve Nickson, conducted a well-publicised scouting mission himself last month. Nickson sat alongside Fresneda's representative, Luis Bardaji, when the Spaniard went head to head with Vinicius Junior in Valladolid's 2-0 defeat against Real Madrid at the Jose Zorrilla Stadium back on December 30.
Newcastle have not followed up their interest just yet - ChronicleLive was unsurprisingly told there was 'no news' from the Valladolid end regarding Fresneda earlier this week - but the Magpies, Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal are among those clubs who have kept tabs on the 18-year-old. Now, for the second time in a matter of days, Bardaji has touched down in London.
READ MORE: Eddie Howe's words will excite Newcastle but worry Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs and Premier League
After catching up with Fresneda in Valladolid on Wednesday afternoon, Bardaji posted a photograph from the Holiday Inn in Kensington last night with a caption that loosely translates as: "Well, we finally arrived." Bardaji was at the same venue on Friday night before returning to Spain and then flying out again. It is not yet clear why Bardaji is back in the capital once more, but the posts bring back memories of Benjamin Sesko's agent, Elvis Basanovic, uploading photographs from Newcastle on Instagram last summer, which fuelled speculation about his client.
Although Newcastle's preference is do business in the summer, the Magpies will assess any deals if the right opportunity comes along in the final 12 days of the mid-season window. Sporting director Dan Ashworth spoke last week of how the 'second part' of the club's strategy was to look at more emerging talent and younger players who would sit outside the 25-man squad and Newcastle have been looking at potential long-term successors to right-back Kieran Trippier for several months now.
READ NEXT
Newcastle's £67m transfer coup debunks spending myth after Chelsea and Manchester United moves
Antonio Conte rules Newcastle out but smiling Eddie Howe unmoved after Manchester United talk
Newcastle assess 'distressed' Bruno Guimaraes' injury that will have big say on transfer plans
Newcastle get glimpse of £80m dream as Eddie Howe teases 'wait and see' about exciting prospect
Fulham make spiky Newcastle referee claim as Marco Silva rages at VAR after Dan Burn escapes
