Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin reportedly wants to join La Liga club Real Betis on a permanent deal this summer following a successful loan spell.
According to Daily Mirror, Hector Bellerin could be on the verge of leaving Arsenal permanently at the end of the season. The right-back is currently on loan at Real Betis, but he is expected to push for a permanent switch to the La Liga side in the summer following a successful season.
Once regarded as one of the best full-backs in all of Europe, Bellerin’s game has regressed in recent years due to injuries and lack of game-time. He was once one of the captain at Arsenal, but during the start of Mikel Arteta’s spell, the right-back was reduced to the role of a fringe player before he eventually joined Real Betis on a loan deal last summer.
Bellerin rejected many offers from other European clubs in favour of a move to Real Betis, thanks to his father’s close connections with the La Liga club. He has not disappointed either, becoming a success in his maiden season at the club, helping Los Verdiblancos lift the Copa Del Rey title recently.
The Arsenal loanee even assisted the opener in the final against Valencia. In addition, his performances in La Liga has been critical in helping Real Betis remain in contention for a potential top-four finish come the end of the season.
Buoyed by the success in his first season at the club, Bellerin is now desperate to prolong his stay at Real Betis and make his move to La Liga permanent. The report fails to mention whether Arsenal are open to offloading their Spaniard on a permanent deal, especially in light of their crisis in the right-back department.
The Gunners, though, have been linked with a series of options in the market, as Arteta looks to add more competition for Takehiro Tomiyasu and find an upgrade to Cedric Soares.
Valentino Livramento has been one of the players linked with a move to the Emirates this summer. And if Arsenal do succeed in the pursuit, there is every chance they would want to offload Bellerin, whose hefty wage demands could affect the club’s financial structure, as Arteta looks to undergo a massive overhaul in the upcoming summer transfer window.
