Arsenal Transfer News: Hector Bellerin Commented on by Barcelona, Top Rumours

Barcelona sporting director Robert Fernandez has said it will be tough to sign Hector Bellerin from Arsenal this summer.

As reported by Mundo Deportivo's Gabriel Sans and Fernando Polo (h/t ESPN FC's Adriana Garcia), when asked about the possibility of bringing Bellerin back to the Camp Nou, Fernandez said: "Of course Hector is a good player. He is well known. He is playing at a great level but there are also other players that have good characteristics. ... When a player has a long-term contract, it's very difficult."

Indeed, Bellerin signed a new deal at Arsenal in November to keep him at the club until 2022, which puts the Gunners in a strong bargaining position should Barca come calling.

The La Masia graduate had admitted to being flattered by links with a return to the club, though:

Bellerin arrived at Arsenal in 2011 and has developed into a key member of the starting XI in recent years.

The Spaniard's electric pace allows him to get up and down the right flank quickly, and his development at both ends of the pitch has generally been on an upward trend since breaking into the first team.

Squawka's Muhammad Butt believes he isn't yet the finished article, however:

While the right-back has shown great potential at the Emirates Stadium, there is still room for improvement both with his final ball—he has created just 15 chances in the Premier League this season, according to Squawka—and defensively.

He has the tools to become a star, but he's not there yet, and the cost of his transfer would likely be too high for a player who isn't yet the finished article.

Meanwhile, Arsenal's struggles in the Premier League could see them lose out to Atletico Madrid in the race to sign Alexandre Lacazette, according to TalkSport.

The pair are both admirers of the Frenchman, who appears set to leave Lyon this summer, but Arsenal look in real danger of missing out on a UEFA Champions League place.

He has been in fantastic form this season, as Squawka Football demonstrated:

His overall tally is 29 goals in all competitions, and he'll almost certainly surpass 30 for the season, a tally Arsenal haven't had a player reach since Robin van Persie in 2012.

Per Kieran Canning of Agence France-Presse, his arrival at Atletico would not have an impact on Antoine Griezmann's future:

Lacazette is the kind of player the Gunners desperately need in the summer, one who could give them a greater ruthless streak than they currently possess.

If Arsenal are to attract players of his calibre in the transfer window and retain their best and brightest, finishing in the top four is imperative.