Report: ‘Key figure’ hands in Arsenal transfer request; he has already picked his next club

Add as preferred source on Google

According to a report from Gianluca Di Marzio, Hector Bellerin has asked Arsenal to let him leave in the coming days.

The Spaniard, labelled as a ‘key figure‘ by Mikel Arteta, has been a Gunner for a decade now. He has been an excellent servant for our football club, but this summer seems like the perfect time for both parties to go their separate ways.

Arteta barely used Bellerin in the back end of the 2020/21 season. He started just two league games in the final three months of last term, and it makes a lot of sense for him to move on and get back to his best elsewhere.

A number of clubs have been heavily linked with a move for Bellerin over the last few months. PSG, Inter Milan, Villarreal and Real Betis were all said to be interested in his services, but only one club can win the race, and the Spaniard has reportedly made his decision.

Hector Bellerin tells Arsenal he wants to join Inter Milan

The report claims that Bellerin has told Arsenal that he wants to leave this summer and he has picked Inter Milan as his preferred destination. The Gunners have agreed to let him go, but the two clubs are not close to reaching an agreement just yet.

Inter Milan only want him on loan with an option to buy him next year. Arsenal, who were initially against a loan deal, are now open to it, but Edu wants a clause inserted in the deal which would obligate the Nerazzurri to buy him permanently if certain conditions are met.

Read more – ‘This makes me emotional’: Arsenal fans absolutely love what Tottenham have just tweeted

The Serie A winners aren’t too keen on Arsenal’s demands. They are still fighting to make this a loan with an option to buy, and the report claims that Bellerin’s wishes could force the Gunners to accept this deal.

The Insider’s View:

Bellerin’s value has already dropped considerably over the last 12 months. He has just two years left on his contract now and Arsenal’s best chance of making some good money off his sale is if we sell him in this window.

Sending him out on loan isn’t an awful idea if the other club is obligated to sign him permanently for a fee of our choice next summer. However, loaning him out with no obligatory clause inserted in his contract would be a terrible move.

If Inter, who are said to be Bellerin’s preferred club, are not interested in a permanent move next summer, Arsenal will have the Spaniard back and his value would’ve dropped even more. That will make it extremely difficult for us to sell him, more so than it is now.

Edu should stand firm in negotiations with Inter. Meeting our demands should be the only way they can sign Bellerin this summer, but knowing our selling record in recent years, it won’t be a surprise at all to see the Spaniard go out on loan and come back with his value halved next year.