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Arsenal chase Real Madrid defender as Calafiori fears confirmed
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 16 Feb 2026 13:57 GMT
- 4 min read
News
Arsenal are tracking Real Madrid defender Victor Valdepenas as Riccardo Calafiori’s injury prior to Sunday’s FA Cup victory over Wigan Athletic have reinforced Mikel Arteta’s belief about the Italy international star.
FootballTransfers exclusively revealed in January that the Gunners are becoming increasingly concerned about Calafiori’s lack of physical durability.
This was an issue that raised itself again on Sunday as he pulled out of the squad in the warm-up due to a problem, prompting Bukayo Saka to be thrust into action as a No.10.
Current ETV
Riccardo Calafiori
D (L)
Arsenal
Riccardo Calafiori
D (L)
Arsenal
ETV Range
€47.5M - €58.1M
It’s unclear when the 23-year-old will be back in action, yet these constant concerns are an irritant to Arteta, who has been following Newcastle’s Tino Livramento as a potential solution at left-back, with Myles Lewis-Skelly struggling to win the trust of the manager.
Victor Valdepenas emerges as Arsenal transfer target
Real Madrid prospect Valdepenas is a player who has caught the eye of Arsenal’s staff with a view to a summer move, AS reports.
The Castilla player has made only one senior appearance but is a highly rated prospect.
Los Blancos offered him an improved contract in December, but this did not extend Valdepenas’ commitment to the club beyond 2029. Instead, it simply offered him an improved salary.
As well as Arsenal, there is strong interest from AC Milan while Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen have both targeted him.
Why do Arsenal want to sign him?
Valdepenas has several crucial hallmarks of an Arsenal signing.
He is versatile and able to cover multiple positions. This is something that Arteta seeks from the vast majority of his signings.
As a wing-back, he has terrific speed – able to match Vinicius Junior in sprint tests in training – while he also boasts impressive stamina.
When deployed in the centre, meanwhile, he is noted for his aerial abilities.
These are attributes similar to those of Calafiori, adding weight to the suggestion that Arsenal are tracking him.
Valdepenas has a release clause worth €50m, and while Arsenal are not about to pay that figure for the youngster, there are clear reasons for them to be attracted to the Real Madrid prospect.
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