Barcelona Transfer News: Latest on Hector Bellerin to Arsenal Rumours

Barcelona are reportedly ready to step up their interest in Arsenal full-back Hector Bellerin having held talks with the player’s representatives about a summer switch. 

According to Lluis Miguelsanz of Sport, the Blaugrana’s sporting director, Robert Fernandez, has already outlined the club’s desire to sign the 21-year-old to his camp. "The club have followed the player and there are no doubts," it’s noted in the report. "Bellerin is the ideal signing for the right-back position for 2017-18."

Here’s a look at how Sport carried the story, per Transfer News Live:

Additionally, it’s suggested Barcelona will look to begin talks with the Gunners over a possible switch during the next international break and a meeting with Richard Low, Arsenal's director of operations, is scheduled for April.

Bellerin, who honed his skills in Barcelona’s La Masia academy, has long been linked with a return to the Camp Nou. Here’s how he compares this season to the club’s starting right-back Sergi Roberto in league matches:

	Bellerin	Roberto
Apps (Sub)	19 (2)	19 (4)
Goals	0	0
Assists	2	5
Key passes per game	0.6	1.1
Dribbles per game	1.4	1.2
Tackles per game	0.8	2.2
Interceptions per game	1.4	1.3

The Arsenal man has established himself as one of the standout full-backs in the Premier League since breaking into the first team.

Bellerin’s game is geared towards attacking. Although he’s not had a regular partner in front of him on the right flank, the youngster is frequently tearing up the sideline, seeking to stretch the play and get into advanced areas. His searing pace makes him such a tough man to track when he makes those forward runs.

These numbers from Squawka Football illustrate exactly the kind of threat that Bellerin can provide from the full-back position:

However, if Barcelona have been watching the full-back closely over the last couple of months, they won’t have been completely pleased with what they’ve witnessed.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

While the 21-year-old still has a lot to learn, in key games for the Gunners recently he’s showcased poor positional play at the back and has seemed to lose focus. Going forward, his delivery into the box has been erratic, while he can also be caught dallying in possession.

As noted by sports commentator John Bradley, Bellerin is one of a number of players who has been letting his manager down in recent weeks:

It’s noted in the report that Bellerin is valued at around €40 million (£35 million) by Arsenal. Additionally, he only recently signed a new long-term contract with the Gunners.

Octavio Passos/Getty Images

While that might prevent Barcelona from making a move, there would be clear merits to chasing the Spain international. Not only is he an excellent young player, he’s someone who would fill a gap in the Barca squad; Roberto is a midfielder by trade, while Aleix Vidal is set for a long spell on the sidelines with a serious injury.

It’d be no surprise if Arsenal were to dig their heels in, though. After all, the future of manager Arsene Wenger—whose contract is set to expire at the end of the season—has sprinkled uncertainty around the Emirates Stadium. Selling one of their prized assets would do little to settle what promises to be a choppy summer in north London.