Chelsea do not have a clause to get first refusal on signing Sporting Lisbon star Ivan Fresneda despite reports suggesting otherwise, it has been claimed in the Portuguese media. The right-back moved to Sporting from Real Valladolid in the summer but it was reported that the Premier League side might have an option to buy him in the future.
Fresneda caught the eye of some of Europe’s biggest clubs with his performances for Valladolid last season. The 19-year-old full-back was one of the best young players in La Liga.
A move to the Premier League was speculated at the start of the summer transfer window. Chelsea and Arsenal were both claimed to harbour an interest in acquiring the teenager, with both clubs keen to add depth to their defence.
It was also reported that Chelsea, whose owners BlueCo have been linked with a purchase of Sporting Lisbon, might get first dibs on Fresneda in the future after he moved to the Portuguese club. However, that has apparently been rubbished by the club’s current owner.
According to the print edition of Portuguese outlet O Jogo, president Frederico Varandas insisted at a club meeting that Chelsea do not have an option to sign Fresneda. He also attempted to quash reports that BlueCo were preparing a bid to buy Sporting.
The Primeira Liga side signed the Spaniard for a bargain £8million in the summer, beating competition from the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Barcelona. Sporting lost Pedro Porro to Tottenham in January, prompting them to sign a right-back this summer.
Signing Fresneda would have added the youngster to a lengthy list of additions at Stamford Bridge. Todd Boehly and his fellow co-owners took their spending above £1billion in the time since their takeover in May 2022.
Fresneda might have been a welcome signing for Mauricio Pochettino given his issues at right-back this season. Reece James has spent much of the campaign on the sidelines through injury, meaning the Chelsea boss has been without his captain.
Chelsea signed Malo Gusto from Lyon in January and he has deputised for the injured James. However, the Frenchman was sent off in the Blues’ 1-0 defeat by Aston Villa at the end of September, ruling him out for three games.
The left-footed Marc Cucurella was deployed as a makeshift right-back in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Fulham on Monday night. Pochettino could continue with the former Brighton man on the right of a back four when Chelsea face Burnley on Saturday.
