Barcelona look for Alves replacement, Hector Bellerin

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With Dani Alves, 33, beginning a new chapter in his career at Juventus, Barcelona are scouring Europe for a replacement right back. Topping their list is Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin, 21.

A member of the Spanish squad at Euro 2016, Bellerin left Barcelona for the Emirates in 2011 as a 16 year-old. He burst into Arsenal’s first XI as a replacement for the injured Mathieu Debuchy, 30, during the 2014/15 season, bringing energetic and confident performances to the right side of the defence.

Such was his consistency, the Catalan retained his place in the starting line-up even when the more experienced Debuchy regained full fitness. The French international, loaned to Bordeaux last season, is set to leave Arsenal this summer as he searches for regular first team football.

Bellerin, with three years of his current contract remaining, has been in talks with Arsenal over an improvement to his current £10,000 per week deal. It’s thought that the north London club are looking to significantly increase his salary in order to fend off the interest from his hometown club.

Stung by previous experience with Cesc Fabregas, 29, Arsenal are determined not to lose their promising right back to a protracted courtship from the Spanish giants.

Earlier in the summer, Technical Director, Roberto Fernandez, admitted that Bellerin was one of Barcelona’s targets as they sought to replace Alves. The Brazilian completed his free transfer to Juventus yesterday, signing a two-year deal, with an option for a third season in Turin.

 

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