Arsenal full-back Hector Bellerin is reportedly considering a move to Manchester City.
Hector Bellerin had started his football career with Barcelona, joining the Catalan club’s youth ranks at the age of eight. The La Masia product then decided to move on from his boyhood club in search of first-team football and joined Premier League club Arsenal in 2011. Bellerin made his senior league debut for the Gunners in the 2014-15 season after spending the earlier season on loan at Watford. He finished his debut season with 2 goals and an assist to his name in his 20 league appearances for the club and firmly established himself as Arsene Wenger’s first choice at the right-back position.
Bellerin continued to impress everyone with his performances in his second season as a part of the first-team setup at Emirates. The Spaniard was a regular for the club, featuring in 36 of the 38 league matches, notching up 5 assists and a goal. The 21-year-old was the second highest rated right-back in the Premier League last season with an average rating of 7.20 (stats via whoscored).
The La Masia product added another feather to his glittering football career in May 2016 as he made his senior international debut for Spain, starting in a 3-1 win over Switzerland in an international friendly. Bellerin was a part of La Roja‘s Euro 2016 squad but remained unused throughout the tournament as Spain bowed out in the Round of 16, losing 2-0 to Italy.
Hector Bellerin was heavily linked with a move back to his boyhood club Barcelona in the summer, with Arsenal reportedly targeting young English full-back Sam Byram as the speedster’s replacement. According to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, the 21-year-old is interested in a move to Premier League club Manchester City and is mulling over an offer from the Citizens.
The report also states that the blue side of Manchester would have to shelve out a fee close to £43m if they are to sign the Spaniard. It is reported that ex-Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola is an admirer of the right-back having seen him closely during his time at the Camp Nou, and believes he would be able to fit in seamlessly into his style of play.
Arsene Wenger would be trying desperately to convince the star defender to stay as the Frenchman knows the right-back would be crucial in his bid to challenge for the Premier League this season. City, on the other hand, believe in the Pep Guardiola regime and is likely to pull out all stops to get the ex-Bayern Munich manager his targets. Bellerin looks to have massive respect for Pep Guardiola and if City are really interested in securing the defender’s services, they are most likely to shelve out the reported £43m to bring him to the Etihad.