Barcelona eye £23m Bellerin transfer but must offload star due to Arsenal demand
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Barcelona are keen to meet Arsenal’s £23million asking price for Hector Bellerin, according to reports from Spain.
Bellerin, 25, has made 205 appearances for the Gunners since making his debut in 2013, including 23 during an injury-struck 2019/20 season.
But he faces stiff competition for minutes at right-back thanks to the emergence of Ainsley Maitland-Niles and the permanent signing of Cedric Soares from Southampton.
As such, Arsenal are willing to part ways with Bellerin and technical director Edu has set a price tag of between €20million (£18million) and €25million (£23million) for the player.
The Gunners are keen to raise transfer funds as they continue to weigh up big-money swoops for Lyon’s Houssem Aouar and Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey.
(Image: Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Barcelona have long been linked with a move for Bellerin, who spent eight years developing at their La Masia academy before joining the Gunners in 2011.
After a dazzling 2016/17 season, the Catalans were believed to be readying a sensational £50million bid to bring the Spanish defender back to Camp Nou.
But at present, Barcelona are financially hamstrung by the coronavirus pandemic and the club will need to sell one of their players in order to finance the move.
Should Arsenal sell Bellerin to Barcelona for £23million? Have your say here.
(Image: Eric Alonso)
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Nelson Semedo, 26, is the man on the chopping block, reports Sport, and a number of Barcelona officials are keen to sell the Portugal right-back.
Manchester City is seen as the ideal destination for Semedo and Barca still harbour hopes of landing a deal for Sky Blues defender Eric Garcia.
But relations between the clubs are frosty following the Lionel Messi saga in which the Argentine was widely tipped to move to the Etihad before reversing his decision last week.
Messi, 33, believed he was free to depart due to a contract clause and was backed to link up with former Barca manager Pep Guardiola.
However, Barcelona refused to acknowledge the clause given it expired in June and received backing from La Liga over their stance, ending City’s hopes of the transfer.
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