Inter Milan manager Antonio Conte has identified Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin as a potential right-back option for the Italian heavyweights with the opening of the transfer window inching closer.
Conte has done brilliant business in the transfer market for Inter since becoming their manager as he has successfully roped in players like Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez and Cristian Eriksen. Attempting a repeat of his heroics in the window, the Italian manager has his eyes set on the Arsenal full-back, understands Express.
Hector Bellerin still has 3 years left on his contract with the Gunners and is expected to cost the Italian outfit around £27 million. While Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta wants him to commit his future to the club, the player is expecting to see convincing progress at the Emirates before he pens a new contract.
Arsenal are currently 9th in the Premier league table and if the team fails to rally and end the season on a high, preferably much higher in the table, there could be a couple of unwanted exits beckoning.
Hector Bellerin: Should the Gunners consider a sale?
Hector Bellerin has been Arsenal’s longest-serving player and has been amongst the few players at Emirates who has shown decent improvement in the past decade. Considering a sale for such a player would be a huge loss for Arsenal who are already in a state of a mess as far as their defence is concerned.
Arsenal have a slow and ageing defence that needs to be sorted out soon if they are to challenge for the top 4 anytime in the near future. Bellerin, with his speed, has often pushed opposition wingers onto the backfoot but lack of support and the failure of his teammates to cover for him has exposed his defensive frailties to an extent, even though he is the best bet at the club right now, defensively as well.
Arteta should immediately look to convince Bellerin regarding the project at Arsenal and clearly make his ambitions of reviving past glories clear if he wants to keep hold of the Spaniard. Results might not be immediately forthcoming and in this situation, it has to be the manager alone who has to convince the team of his vision and the need for everyone to remain invested in it.
The upcoming transfer window will be crucial though and if Arsenal can manage to end the season with a few solid displays and a couple of uplifting results, it will hold the team management in good stead heading into the transfer window. A couple of defensive additions after that will go a long way in the attempt to try and make Hector Bellerin stay on at a club where he has not enjoyed much success in terms of silverware.
