Arsenal Must Stand Firm on Hector Bellerin to Prove They’re Not a Selling Club

Arsene Wenger has always preferred to make stars rather than buy them. Hector Bellerin is a prime example: Having snuck him away from Barcelona’s academy as a teenager, the Arsenal manager has subsequently overseen his transformation into one of the most exciting full-backs in Europe.

However, his rise has not gone unnoticed elsewhere. Manchester City are now said to be lurking with a big-money bid, and the onus is now on Wenger to do what it takes to keep his young charge in north London. Acquiring Bellerin may have been cheap, but losing him would cost Arsenal dear.

According to Jack Austin of The Independent, Bellerin ranks highly on Pep Guardiola’s list of transfer targets for next year: 

Pep Guardiola is set to hand Manchester City bosses a list of 2017 transfer targets which could total £150m – only two months after spending £175m on players during the summer.

Guardiola is desperate to sign Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin, who was in Barcelona’s youth system while he was managing at the Nou Camp.

Bellerin 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. 

It doesn’t take a great leap of the imagination to believe that Bellerin could interest Guardiola. After all, the City boss’ playing style was forged in the academy at Barcelona—the same place where Bellerin began his footballing apprenticeship.  

Guardiola’s Barcelona had one of the greatest attacking full-backs of modern times, Dani Alves, stationed on the right side of the defence.

Bellerin’s marauding style is definitely reminiscent of the Brazilian, and with both Pablo Zalabeta and Bacary Sagna the wrong side of 30 it would make plenty of sense to target the Arsenal 21-year-old.

The Spain international could be a key component as Guardiola seeks to emulate Barcelona’s expansive play at the Etihad Stadium.

Barca might also be interested in bringing their former player back to the Camp Nou.

According to Jeremy Wilson of the Telegraph, Barcelona sporting director Robert Fernandez has dubbed Bellerin a “magnificent player”.

Having already succeeded in luring Cesc Fabregas back to Barcelona, it would be no great surprise if they attempted to pull off the same trick with the 21-year-old.

However, it’s City who currently pose the biggest threat—due …

continue reading in source www.bleacherreport.com