Arsenal Transfer News: Hector Bellerin Would Consider Barcelona, Latest Rumours

Hector Bellerin would reportedly consider a transfer to former club Barcelona in the summer. The Arsenal right-back may opt to return to Spain if Gunners manager Arsene Wenger leaves the Premier League side at the end of the season.

A report from David Hytner of the Guardian says Wenger's future is set to influence those of more than one key player at Arsenal, including Bellerin: "The Guardian understands that, were Wenger to leave, it would change Bellerin’s thinking—and it would impact on the futures of other key players, principally Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, each of whom will have one year to run on his contract in the summer."

Hytner also described how former Barca youth player Bellerin is grateful to Wenger for the impact on his career: "Bellerin has a debt of loyalty to the manager but, more importantly, he enjoys playing for him. When Manchester City pushed hard to sign Bellerín last summer, the 21-year-old opted to stay put because he felt he was in a good place under Wenger."

Bellerin may care about his manager's future beyond this season, but Barca don't. The Nou Camp club continues to show an interest in the player Wenger plucked from its youth ranks back in 2011.

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In fact, Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo (h/t Metro's Mark Brus) reported how Barcelona have stayed keen on the 21-year-old right-back. It makes sense for Barca to be interested since the club has had ongoing issues at right-back after letting Dani Alves leave for Juventus last summer.

Converted midfielder Sergi Roberto has struggled with the defensive aspects of the position. Meanwhile, Aleix Vidal's serious ankle injury has placed further stress on manager Luis Enrique's options at right-back.

While Barca struggle to find solutions to a problem position, Bellerin has steadily matured into a quality full-back. The Spaniard offers tremendous recovery pace as a defender to go with his speed and technical acumen in forward areas.

Bellerin has responded well to the possession-based game Wenger preaches at Arsenal. He's also made such rapid strides because of the faith Wenger showed in the one-time winger at youth level.

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That faith is no doubt why Bellerin feels allegiance to Wenger. Yet as Hytner described, the fate of a manager whose contract expires in the summer, is far from certain: "Wenger, who is under remorseless pressure from a section of the club’s support, has the offer of a two-year extension on the table but he wants to gauge the general mood before he makes his decision."

Whether Wenger stays on or not, the Gunners need to keep an asset like Bellerin around for the long haul. Although the youthful defender hasn't been at his best this season, he's still a burgeoning star with the potential to eventually become the premier player at his position.

Gunners Linked with New Move for Familiar Target

Arsenal are reportedly "considering a fresh bid" for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette, according to Jason Burt of the Daily Telegraph. The Gunners failed to sign Lacazette in the summer but are ready to revisit their interest in the prolific Frenchman, per Burt.

Burt noted how Atletico Madrid are also considering Lacazette as a potential replacement for Antoine Griezmann. The latter has been heavily linked with Manchester United, with even former Gunners midfielder Emmanuel Petit telling Sky Sports' Soccer AM United will "definitely" sign the Atleti forward this summer.

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Arsenal and other teams interested in Lacazette received a boost earlier this month when the striker told Canal+ (h/t Metro's Chris Davie) he's considering leaving this summer: "I think it has arrived at the right time, I think this summer will be the moment when we will have to change the air and discover something else."

Those words could offer encouragement to Arsenal after the north London club pursued the player last summer, per Sky Sports News HQ.

Lacazette remains an interesting target for the Gunners after scoring 26 goals in all competitions so far this season, according to WhoScored.com. The 25-year-old has proved he boasts the movement, touch, technique and eye for goal to thrive in any league.

Lacazette also has qualities Arsenal value up front. Specifically, he possesses the pace and skill as a link player to thrive in the Gunners' fast-breaking and collective forward play.

Of course, Arsenal's squad is already brimming with speedy forwards. Attackers such as Theo Walcott, Lucas Perez, Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez ensure the Gunners are not lacking for options up top.

Yet the club may need a replacement for Sanchez, whose contract expires in 2018, with the Chilean yet to agree a new deal. Lacazette would be the ideal star-in-the-making for a player developer like Wenger to work with assuming the latter is still in charge next season.

Wenger may be under pressure, but he's not lost the knack for turning prospects into stars, with Bellerin a recent and invaluable example of the manager's teaching skills. Arsenal must keep Bellerin while stepping up efforts to find their next would-be stars.