Arsenal plotting summer move for 19-year-old Real Madrid defensive prospect | OneFootball

This season has seen Real Madrid hand first-team debuts to a number of youth prospects from La Fabrica owing to the sheer number of injuries in the senior squad.

One such young talent who made his senior debut for Los Blancos this term happens to be Victor Valdepenas.

Just 19 years old, the versatile defender, who can play at centre-back and left-back, starting in the La Liga clash against Alaves in December. In the process, he became the first academy talent to make his debut under Xabi Alonso.

Arsenal eye Victor Valdepenas

Now, according to Guillermo Rai on The Athletic, Arsenal are interested in signing Valdepenas from Real Madrid in the summer transfer window.

The Gunners have been tracking the Spanish defender for quite some time now and hold a strong interest in acquiring his services.

Valdepenas on Arsenal’s radar. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

However, Mikel Arteta’s side are not the only team monitoring the Real Madrid starlet, with several other clubs also understood to be keeping tabs.

The Merengues, though, rate Valdepenas very highly and are unlikely to let the youngster leave that easily in the summer.

Indeed, soon after his first-team debut under former manager Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid moved to secure the youngster’s future by improving his contract.

Valdepenas remains tied down to the Spanish capital club until 2029 with a release clause worth €50 million and a higher salary than he was earning at the start of the campaign.

The 19-year-old starlet has not seen any first-team action since his debut against Alaves. It remains to be seen whether he receives any chances under new boss Alvaro Arbeloa, who has already handed opportunities multiple players from Castilla since taking over.