Transfer expert makes bold claim over Arsenal defender; names next club
Reports claim there is a big chance that right-back Hector Bellerin will leave Arsenal during the summer transfer window.
Bellerin, 26, has been with the Gunners since 2011. He switched from Barcelona’s youth team to join the Arsenal youngsters before graduating to the senior squad in 2013. The Spaniard has gone on to make 234 appearances in all competitions, scoring nine times for the north Londoners. However, he seems to have slipped down the pecking order in recent times.
Having started 22 Premier League games this term, he has been benched for the past five. Calum Chambers and Cedric Soares have been selected ahead of him.
And it appears as though his days at the Emirates may now be numbered. Journalist Fabrizio Romano – a specialist in transfer rumours – has taken to Twitter to give his thoughts.
The 28-year-old believes there are ‘huge chances’ that the Spain international will be on his way in the off-season. The Italian goes on to say that Paris Saint-Germain may be interested in the defender.
PSG’s transfer guru Leonardo held an interest in Bellerin last summer but nothing materialised. And it is felt that the Ligue 1 giants may well return to try and get a deal over the line this time.
There is no mention of any possible transfer fee but the Premier League club will want a decent price.
No cut-price Bellerin deal
The current pandemic means finances across the football world are tight. It is open to debate as to whether there will be any mega-deals during the summer months.
There may be some bargains to be had but Arsenal hold all the aces in dealings over Bellerin. The Barcelona-born ace is under contract until 2023.
He is still a highly-rated player despite being marginalised in recent weeks. Romano adds that other clubs will enter the picture and it will be an ‘open race’ for his signature.
That is certain to increase his valuation, meaning Arsenal will not have to offer any ‘discount’. It is not clear if Mikel Arteta sees Bellerin in his long-term plans.
Arsenal’s poor campaign means there are likely to be new additions to the squad before the start of 2021-2022. Players will therefore leave and former Gunner Bacary Sagna feels Bellerin will be off.
“Hector has been there for years,” he told Goal last month. “He started playing not long after I left, so he has been in the team for like six years.
“And a bit like I felt, he probably feels that he wants to challenge himself because he has been there for a long time.”
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