Arsenal: Hector Bellerin exit demands and requires compensation

Barcelona are pushing hard to sign Hector Bellerin, with the Spaniard reportedly torn between Arsenal and the Catalan club. If he were to leave, then his exit demands and requires the necessary compensation, both in terms of price and replacement.

Given the contract crisis that has engulfed the Arsenal squad this season thanks to a complacent attitude from Arsene Wenger and negligence from the board, much of the media attention has centred on the rather uncertain futures of Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain et al.

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However, there are other players who face a defining summer. Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs, Olivier Giroud. None have an entrenched future with the club and could well leave in the coming months. Much of those situations, though, arose out of the player not being needed or wanted by Wenger. Hector Bellerin’s uncertainty is because of very different reasons indeed.

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Barcelona are reportedly stepping up their pursuit for their former youth product after becoming impatient with the slow progress that has been made thus far. After Dani Alves departed last summer on a free transfer, venturing for new challenges with Juventus, Barcelona have been left with a gaping hole, one that they see Bellerin as the perfect player to fill.

But Bellerin is still a key contributor to the Arsenal squad with a blossoming career and bright future ahead of him. Throughout his time in England, he has showcased great athletic ability, with his speed and stamina allowing him to maraud up and down the right flank freely and relentlessly, as well as a continually improving understanding of the game, fine-tuning his defensive positioning and being more reserved and thoughtful when he does decide to bomb forward.

The bright future that Bellerin has before him, combined with the influence and the importance that he already heralds in North London, means that Arsenal must ensure they get sufficient compensation for his services, both in terms of price and replacement.

First and foremost, if they accept an offer any less than £40 million, then they are selling Bellerin for far too cheap a price. Barcelona have the money such that the Gunners can drive the price up and Bellerin has the quality to deem such a substantial fee. However, more than mere money, they must also find a suitable, ready-made replacement in his absence.

Marauding, boundless full-backs who are defensively astute while being offensively creative and productive are a rare breed. There are many who are happy to, unwisely, bomb forward, with gumption and intention, without paying much thought to their defensive duties.

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Bellerin is that type of player and Wenger’s system relies upon it. If Arsenal sell him, even for a fair price, but do not replace him accordingly, they will feel the pain from the get go. Given their issues in other areas in the squad, they cannot afford to create another problem for themselves this summer.