Barcelona are still in the hunt to sign Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin during the summer transfer window. The Catalan outfit are willing to discuss a straight cash deal with the Gunners rather than involving the player in a potential swap for Arda Turan.
Bellerin, 22, has been a constant target for the Spanish outfit over the past year or so with sporting director Roberto Fernandez having watched him in action on a couple of occasions last season.
The former La Masia student had struggled to replicate his best form following an ankle problem earlier last term, but the shift to the right wing-back position appeared to help him regain his confidence during the backend of the season.
Benfica’s Nelson Semedo has been recently highlighted as the prime transfer target to fulfil the right-back duties at Camp Nou, but according to MARCA, there are still worries over his £48m price tag.
As a result, the Catalan giants have shifted their focus back to Bellerin, who could be prised away from Arsenal for £43m despite signing a fresh six-and-a-half year deal in November last year.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is said to have earmarked Arda Turan as a top option for the summer transfer window, but Barcelona are unlikely to offer him as makeweight in a proposed deal for Bellerin as they wait on bigger offers from the Far East.
Meanwhile, Bellerin recently insisted that he signed a new deal in order to prolong his Gunners career thereby dismissing any talks over a potential summer exit.
“I signed my contract for a reason,” Bellerin told The Mail. “I signed it because I wanted to be here. I wouldn’t have done it otherwise.”
Bellerin has enjoyed a quite successful period with the Gunners in recent years after having played a part in two of their FA Cup triumphs – the last being against English champions Chelsea last weekend.
