A major part of Newcastle United’s transfer strategy appears to be focusing on players for the next generation.
Sven Botman, Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Harrison Ashby all represent very youthful additions as the club’s owners build for the future.
Clearly, in the case of Botman and Isak in particular, they are still able to hit the ground running.
Still, it’s promising to see Newcastle think long-term, rather than just signing big names for the sake of it.
Real Valladolid defender Ivan Fresneda is another young name to have been linked.
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Indeed, Dan Ashworth was reportedly pushing to sign the right-back, who was hailed as a “superb” talent by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig for his performance against Real Madrid in December.
Now, there appears to have been another development.
Ivan Fresneda now learning English
Speaking to Spanish publication Marca, the teenager confirmed he was now learning English.
The report suggests that all signs point towards the player leaving Spain this summer, with interest from Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund.
Newcastle need to be wary of a bidding war
While the Evening Standard have previously reported that Fresneda has a release clause of around £26.5m in his contract, Valladolid are said to be keen to start a bidding war.
According to the report, they are eager to push clubs as close to that fee as possible and certainly have the interest required to do that.
Last month, Fresneda revealed he was “proud” to have been linked with big clubs abroad.
“I’m proud but I always say it, I’m also at a big club, Valladolid,” Fresneda told AS (via the Evening Standard).