Barcelona open talks with Arsenal over £35m Bellerin deal

Talks are about to start between Arsenal and Barcelona over the future of Hector Bellerin.

The 22-year-old right-back signed a new six-and-a-half-year deal with the Gunners in November, one that netted the young defender £200,000-a-week. But in recent months his head has been turned by overtures from Barcelona, his football alma mater, and it appears he's made up his mind to return home.

According to The Sun, his family have recently returned to Spain and Bellerin "wants to join them back in Barcelona". That's music to the ears of the Catalan club and Arsenal are now ready to listen to offers.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

The Sun claims, via Spanish rag Sport, that the two clubs "have already set up a meeting to hash out a deal for the Spanish international". Top of the agenda will be the transfer fee with reports that Barca will open with £26m bid "although he is likely to cost more".

How much more? Arsenal have reportedly set his asking price at £35m bearing in mind his youth and the fact Bellerin only signed a new deal in November.

It's been said that nothing will deter Arsene Wenger from going after Monaco magician Thomas Lemar but according to Metro he now faces stiff competition from Juventus.

It was reported earlier in the week that the French champions were demanding £80m for their winger, and that Wenger was prepared to meet that price, but so too are Juventus. Taking Italian outlet Tuttosport as its source, Metro says that Juve are planning a double swoop on Monaco, with Lemar and full-back Djibril Sidibe as their targets.