Arsenal Transfer News: Hector Bellerin Rumours Intensify, Adrien Rabiot Latest

Barcelona are reportedly stepping up their attempts to sign Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin, with a club official said to be "jetting around Europe" in a bid to seal the deal. Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain's Adrien Rabiot is understood to be a priority target for the Gunners.

According to Spanish newspaper AS (h/t Sport Witness), Barcelona technical director Robert Fernandez flew to London for talks with Bellerin's representatives before heading to Italy to watch him in action for Spain's under-21s on March 27.

If said report proves to be genuine, the path seems too coincidental not to match up with interest in Bellerin in some form, particularly given the La Masia academy graduate has been fiercely linked with a return to the Camp Nou of late.

However, Football Radars have posted results to suggest incumbent makeshift right-back Sergi Roberto may not be a poor option in the role, given he's soundly besting Bellerin in passing and tackling numbers this term:

Much of Bellerin's summer fate could rest on whether veteran manager Arsene Wenger remains at Emirates Stadium, with major doubts creeping as to the Frenchman's future with the club.

It seems safe to assume Bellerin would be content to remain in north London if Wenger were to do the same after he told Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo (h/t Sky Sports) of the appreciation he has for his Arsenal chief:

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The loyalty tor this person is worth more than money, it's something very important to me. That he's there carries a lot of weight for me. Any player would be flattered by interest from Barca. It's the best club in the world and that is very nice.

The fact that I grew up in the Barca academy also makes this a bit more special, although for now I'm focused on these games and on the season, and the rest will come later. When I left Barca my idea was not to return, because my exit was a little complicated.

"

Bellerin went on to say he "cannot close any doors," however, and as Mundo Deportivo (h/t Calciomercato.com) also report Manchester City and Juventus are interested, nothing can be ruled out at this stage.

One thing that does seem certain is the Gunners are liable to receive a big payday if they do cash in on the defender, with that same report suggesting Arsenal will demand €50 million (£42.5 million) for their star.

Meanwhile, the north London giants are understood to be targeting PSG starlet Rabiot, who will be a big priority for Arsenal—as long as Wenger remains in the manager's seat.

That's according to French magazine Le10 Sport (h/t Daily Star's Lewis Winter), which reported Arsenal's interest in the midfielder is "very serious."

OptaJean recently hailed Rabiot as one of the biggest prospects in Ligue 1, having made his UEFA Champions League debut at the age of 17 and helping PSG clinch four successive Ligue 1 titles:

Wenger has seriously missed the talents of injured midfielder Santi Cazorla this season, and while last summer's signing of Granit Xhaka helped beef up his core, there's still a lack of leader figures.

Whether Rabiot, 21, would supply that is another question, but Arsenal may finally make good on their long-held interest in a playmaker who has now been linked with a north London move for several years.