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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Simon Collings

Arsenal push for Hector Bellerin and Ainsley Maitland-Niles exits as Mikel Arteta clear-out continues

Arsenal are looking to resolve the futures of Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Hector Bellerin in the final two weeks of the transfer window.

The pair are both in the final 12 months of their current contracts and Arsenal are looking to secure them permanent moves away from Emirates Stadium.

Real Betis is currently Bellerin’s most likely destination, with the right-back enjoying a successful loan spell there last season.

Arsenal want a fee for Bellerin but Betis are hoping they can land him for free, leading to a major sticking point in negotiations between the clubs.

Arsenal are hoping to offload both Hector Bellerin and Ainsley Maitland-Niles this month (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

So far there is nothing concrete on Maitland-Niles, however it is thought and hoped that a deal for him could accelerate in the final days of the window.

The 24-year-old had been on Nottingham Forest’s radar as they looked for a right wing-back, but they eventually swooped for Neco Williams from Liverpool instead.

Arsenal have managed to find a loan move for goalkeeper Alex Runarsson and his switch to Turkish side Alanyaspor was confirmed last night.

Runarsson, who joined Arsenal in 2020 from Dijon for around £1million, has slipped down the pecking order under Mikel Arteta.

The goalkeeper spent last season on loan at OH Leuven in Belgium and was told he could leave Arsenal again this summer. The strongest interest in Runarsson had always been from Turkey, with Antalyaspor also keen on signing him.

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