Arsenal transfer news: Barcelona become latest side to make move for Hector Bellerin
Manchester City are also interested in the right-back
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal look set to have a fight on their hands if they are to keep hold of defender Hector Bellerin, with Barcelona putting him at the top of their transfer list.
The Spanish champions are growing weary of current right-back Aleix Vidal’s struggles to perform consistently well and manager Luis Enrique is unconvinced by him.
Vidal joined Barca in the summer of 2015 but, as a result of the club’s transfer ban, was unable to make his debut until January 2016, which may have had an impact on his struggle to settle.
Sporting director Robert Fernandez has drawn up a list of five players as Vidal’s replacement, with Bellerin topping the list, according to Spanish newspaper Marca.
The other players currently drawing Barcelona’s interest are Valencia’s Joao Cancelo, Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich, Shaktar Donetsk’s Darijo Srna and Juventus’ Stephan Lichtsteiner.
However, with Dani Alves leaving for Juventus in the summer, Enrique is desperate to find a long-term suitor for the position and he believes 21-year-old Bellerin is the answer.
Bellerin is a former Barcelona youth player before leaving for the Emirates when he was 16 years old but Pep Guardiola, who was manager while the Spaniard was at the Nou Camp, is keen to bring him to Manchester City.
The right-back is believed to be available for £40m and City are confident they can persuade him to trade the Emirates for the Etihad with the promise of trophies.
The Gunners have reportedly offered Bellerin a new deal worth nearly double his current £50,000-a-week pay packet in a hope to keep him out of the clutches of Europe’s biggest clubs.
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