Arsenal eye move for Real Madrid defender after Gunners miss out on £56m Chelsea target

Arsenal have scouted Real Madrid defender Victor Valdepenas and are keeping a close eye on the teenager.

The 19-year-old has been tipped to become a first team regular at the Bernabeu and made his senior debut against Alaves last month.

Valdepenas is comfortable in a left-back role or in central defence and the Gunners are keen to add a player of that versatility and age to their current squad.

Any move would almost certainty, according to The Sun, have to wait until the summer while Valdepenas, himself, has shown no indication he wants to leave his boyhood club.

Indeed, speaking after his recent breakthrough performance, he told Real Madrid TV: ‘It’s a dream, every child’s dream.

‘I’ve been dreaming about it since I started playing football. It’s impossible to explain how I feel.’

Arsenal currently have a number of players capable of filling the positions Valdepenas excels in but both Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie have struggled to maintain their fitness this season, while Myles Lewis-Skelly’s form has dipped alarmingly.

The England international endured another difficult afternoon in the recent FA Cup third round win at Portsmouth.

Lewis-Skelly subsequently dropped out of the starting line-up for the matches against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup and the goalless draw at the City Ground on Saturday.

The 19-year-old could well feature in tomorrow night’s Champions League group stage clash against Inter when the Gunners will be looking to cement their place at the head of the current standings.

Arsenal, meanwhile, appear unlikely to add to the squad which his still chasing four trophies this term in what remains of the January transfer window.

The current Premier League table toppers had, however, been credited with an interest in the seemingly Chelsea-bound Jeremy Jacquet.

The Blues are already reported to have agreed personal terms with one of the most highly-rated young defenders in Ligue 1.

Jacquet, 20, starred in France U19’s run to the Euro 2024 final and was subsequently named in the Team of the Tournament.

Big-spending Chelsea are yet to make any January signings but often wait until nearer the deadline to work on deals.