Arsenal are reportedly set to allow Hector Bellerin to complete a free transfer to Barcelona as the Gunners attempt to rubber-stamp a few late deals on deadline day.
The Spanish international enjoyed a season-long loan spell back in his homeland last season with Real Betis - winning the Copa del Rey with the La Liga outfit. He was anticipated to leave the Emirates Stadium on a permanent basis.
Despite that, it has taken a while for Bellerin’s long-term future to become clear - negotiations regarding a switch proving difficult. Nevertheless, he appears set to finally seal a move away from the club with Barcelona looking likely to be his destination.
According to Metro, the Gunners are reportedly set to grant the academy graduate a free transfer to the Camp Nou with the Catalan giants on the hunt for reinforcements at right-back ahead of Sergino Dest’s deadline day switch to AC Milan.
Should the move go through, that would see Bellerin bring to an end his Arsenal career one year early with the 27-year-old’s contract having just a year left to run as it stands.
Bellerin would leave having made 239 appearances for the north London club having initially joined the club as a teenager from Barcelona. In that time, he has won the FA Cup on three occasions.
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He is not the first player to have left Arsenal for nothing. Edu has developed a reputation of being relatively ruthless with terminations over the past couple of seasons - the likes of Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Sokratis, Sead Kolasinac and Shkodran Mustafi having all left on free transfers.
Whilst Arsenal are continuing to reduce the size of their squad over the closing hours of the 2022 summer transfer window, the Gunners are also attempting to add more bodies following their impressive start to the season.
The north Londoners are continuing to chase Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz ahead of the deadline. He could potentially be available considering his contract is set to end next summer, whilst Villa are set to make a move for Wolves star Leander Dendoncker.
Luiz has been with Aston Villa since a 2019 switch from Premier League rivals Manchester City - albeit having never played for the club due to work permit issues. He has gone on to accumulate 116 appearances for the Midlands outfit since.
The Brazilian ironically scored against the Gunners yesterday in Arsenal’s 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium - Mikel Arteta’s men managing to continue their perfect start to the 2022/23 Premier League season.
