Barcelona have expressed an interest to sign Hector Bellerin this summer as they prepare for life without Nelson Semedo.
According to Sport, Barcelona have emerged as the latest suitors for Hector Bellerin. The Arsenal star has been linked with a move away from Emirates, with Juventus among the clubs interested in his services.
However, it seems Barcelona have already met Arsenal regarding a potential €20 million transfer, with the Spaniard reportedly being identified as a perfect replacement for Nelson Semedo.
The club is open to selling the Portuguese right-back, who has never really settled in at Catalonia despite his game-time. And it is believed that there are certain members of the Barcelona hierarchy, who would be more than happy to offload him this summer.
The Premier League, in particular, is seen as a potential destination for Semedo, although the Blaugrana are yet to find any suitor except Manchester City, who were willing to trade him in a swap deal involving Joao Cancelo.
Nevertheless, Barcelona have already eyed replacements for Semedo and Bellerin, in that regard, might not be a bad option. He has the pace, athleticism as well as the experience that could potentially help him thrive under the leadership of Ronald Koeman. The fact that he is Spanish also helps his cause.
As for Arsenal, the departure of Bellerin could be a part of Mikel Arteta’s overhaul as the manager looks to build a flexible unit, with Ainsley Maitland-Niles already making some waves while Cedric Soares was signed from Southampton to provide back-up.
Bellerin’s sale could help Arsenal balance their books during a time when most European clubs have been financially affected due to Coronavirus. The Gunners have already released Henrikh Mkhitaryan while the likes of Matteo Guendouzi and Alexandre Lacazette have both linked with a move away from Emirates.
Not to mention, Bellerin hasn’t been the most proactive player in recent years, often struggling with fitness and injuries. It has significantly affected his overall game as well, which is something Barcelona must be careful of, especially given their lack of depth in the right-back department.
That said, a fee of €20 million could be a bargain from Barcelona’s perspective. It could make sense even for Arsenal as the Spaniard is the club’s highest-paid defender, pocketing around £6 million per year.
