Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Hector Bellerin and Sam Byram Rumours

Arsenal are reportedly preparing the way for Hector Bellerin's return to Barcelona by readying a move to replace him with West Ham United left-back Sam Byram.

According to Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb's Claudio Colla (via the Daily Star's Rhys Turrell), Arsenal fear they may lose Bellerin, 21, to former club Barca and Gunners manager Arsene Wenger sees Byram as a potential replacement.

Colla's report added that the Hammers will be unwilling to sell Byram, 22, having only signed him in January for £3.7 million on a four-and-a-half year deal from Leeds United.

However, Arsenal should be able to offer them a very attractive profit on Byram, while the Englishman himself could well be tempted by the chance to play in the UEFA Champions League.

In an ideal world for Arsenal, they will not even need to pursue Byram. But it seems clear that Barca are lining up Bellerin as a replacement for the departed Dani Alves, and the Spanish defender could surely be tempted by a return to his boyhood club, per the Sun's Jonjo McCabe.

Per Spanish outlet Sport (via McCabe), Arsenal are looking to end the uncertainty over Bellerin by offering him a new contract, but the north London club have been burned before, losing Thierry Henry, Cesc Fabregas, Thomas Vermaelen and Alex Song to the Camp Nou in recent years.

Bellerin truly established himself as Arsenal's undisputed No. 1 right-back last season, starting 36 of their 38 Premier League matches as the Gunners finished second, per WhoScored.com.

Per Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe, only Mesut Ozil performed better for Arsenal in the English top flight last term:

It would be a huge blow for Arsenal to lose Bellerin as he is likely to be one of the top full-backs in the world over the next few years, but Byram's signing could soften the blow somewhat.

The former Leeds man made a name for himself at Elland Road to earn himself a move to the Premier League, per Sky Sports' Adam Bate and Charlotte Marsh.

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Per WhoScored, he only turned out for West Ham four times in the league following his winter move but has enormous ability and can play as either a right-back or further forward as a winger.

His attacking abilities are impressive, while he has the combative nature that should make him a success as a full-back in the Premier League.

It would be a big call to ask him to step into Bellerin's spot and excel immediately, but even if the Spaniard does not move to Barca this summer, Arsenal would do well to track Byram for the future.