Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin, who has been linked with a move to Barcelona and Manchester City, is reportedly available for €35m.
Spanish publication Sport have claimed on the cover of the latest edition of their newspaper that Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin could be available for a fee around the €35m mark. The figure is understood to be the minimum offer a potential suitor would have to make to begin negotiations with the Gunners.
The same publication had revealed on Monday that Barcelona’s technical director Robert Fernandez had established contact with Bellerin in late May this year to communicate the Catalan giants’ desire to bring the defender back to his boyhood club.
Meanwhile, Barcelona vice-president Jordi Mestre talked to Sport in length about Hector Bellerin and hinted that the player does fit the transfer profile as a solution to the right-back position. Mestre praised Bellerin as a player and named a few others, including Cesc Fabregas, Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba, who had gone away from the club when young and returned after establishing themselves in Europe with their respective teams.
Hector Bellerin moved to Arsenal from Barcelona at the age of 16 as Arsene Wenger had promised the youngster a first-team role at the Premier League club, something which Mestre admitted that Barcelona could not provide with Dani Alves still at the club.
Barcelona have seen the emergence of Sergi Roberto as a successful right-back, but the La Liga champions are still looking for a player who is a more natural fit in that position.
Meanwhile, Manchester City are also reported to be keeping tabs on the Arsenal right-back, according to the Daily Mail. Pep Guardiola is an admirer of Bellerin and the Citizens have been interested in the young defender since the summer window. With Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna both on the wrong side of 30, Guardiola is eyeing a move for Bellerin as a long-term solution for the right side of the defence.
Manchester City have already inflicted a defeat on Barcelona in the transfer market by beating Pep’s old team to the signature of Nolito, and the Premier League giants are prepared to battle the Spanish champions for Bellerin as well.
