Arsenal Transfer News: Hector Bellerin Barcelona Meeting Denied, Latest Rumours

Representatives of Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin have denied the right-back met with Barcelona's sporting director Robert Fernandez, per Sport.

The Spaniard has been heavily linked with a move to Luis Enrique's side, including a report from David Hytner for the Guardian, but Cadena SER's report Fernandez flew to London to meet the Spaniard is false, per Sport.

Bellerin has previously indicated that he will only stay at Arsenal if Wenger remains manager, per Hytner, despite having signed a new six-and-a-half-year contract in November. The Gunners boss looks increasingly likely to remain at the club, after it was reported on Wednesday that Wenger is ready to put pen to paper on a two-year deal, per Sami Mokbel for the Daily Mail.

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

However, it seems unlikely that this will deter Barca from making a bid in the near future. The Catalan club did not replace Dani Alves last summer and consequently have looked vulnerable at right-back in the 2016-17 season, with Sergi Roberto regularly playing in an unfamiliar role.

Bellerin is their No. 1 target this summer, per Mundo Deportivo (h/t Luke Brown for the Independent), and he has previously admitted being flattered by the club's interest.

"It's nice there are a lot of big clubs that are interested in me, but if one of those is Barcelona that's special," he told Sport. "I don't forget I grew up in that home and I will never forget my stay at Barcelona."

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

The Arsenal right-back's history with Barcelona may make it an appealing prospect, although not all of his memories of that time are positive.

"I left Barcelona because I felt the club was not confident in me, I didn't feel valued, [I was] disenchanted," he said, per Sport.

Arsenal certainly cannot afford to lose Bellerin given that both Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil seem likely to leave the club this summer, per Metro. This latest rebuttal, courtesy of Bellerin's representatives, is welcome news for the Arsenal hierarchy and should quell fears that a mass exodus is imminent.