Hector Bellerin has emerged as Barcelona’s number one January target, according to reports in Catalonia.
Sport are already describing the Arsenal defender as the “chosen one”, as Camp Nou officials continue their search for a long-term replacement for Dani Alves, who joined Juventus in the summer.
The Gunners will be desperate to hold onto the Spain international, but Barca boss Luis Enrique is going in all guns blazing, even hoping to start negotiations in the next few weeks – months before the transfer window even opens.
Bellerin has been hugely impressive for Arsene Wenger’s side, and the last thing Arsenal will want to do is weaken their defence having worked so hard to strengthen with the signings of Shkodran Mustafi and Rob Holding.
All this will also be bad news for Barca’s current right-back Sergei Roberto, who would surely lose his place in the team if Bellerin were brought in.
The rest of English football should finally sit up and take notice, too. While Arsenal’s rivals would revel in their displease were Bellerin to leave, this is just the latest case of football’s finest choosing La Liga over the Premier League, and it’s a trend which isn’t going away.
