Hector Bellerin open to Arsenal exit with PSG & Barcelona keen

Hector Bellerin is open to the idea of departing Arsenal in the summer transfer window as Paris Saint-Germain prepare to revive their interest in the right-back.

The Spaniard was subject of bids from the French giants in the summer in the region of £25m, offers that the club turned down as they held out for closer to £35m.

Bellerin‘s reasons for being open to a move at that point were understandable. Mikel Arteta was embarking on a full-scale rebuild, one that would require years of work before European and Premier League ambitions could be met. In the end no move materialised as Arteta convinced the defender otherwise.

It initially paid off. Bellerin enjoyed some of his finest form in north London to date during the early parts of the season before the drastic drop in performances and results made for a harrowing November/December period.

Hector Bellerin open to leaving Arsenal as PSG and Barcelona show interest

As his form dipped, fans have turned on him as a scapegoat. Even when his displays have not been among the worst, he’s usually singled out.

Europe does not agree. As per James Benge at CBS Sports, PSG are joined by Barcelona and at least two Serie A clubs in eyeing a deal in the summer. Come the end of the season he will have two years left to run on his contract, with the Gunners offering no indication they are willing to sell at this stage.

However, Bellerin is open to the idea. His love for the club runs deep and if he were to go it would only be on good terms, with Arsenal set to be presented with a welcome injection of cash from European big-hitters should they choose to accept come the end of the season.

If they were to sell, then Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey and Norwich’s Max Aarons have been sounded out as their ideal replacements. Two young, offensive English full-backs with bags of potential.

Bellerin’s form has ebbed and flowed this season and the disappointing aspect of playing well against Benfica and following it up with a torrid afternoon against Manchester City will have done him no favours with already discontent supporters.

He has a big role to play before the end of the season and all this speculation does nobody any favours. This is one that has to be reviewed when the outcome of Arsenal’s season is finalised, even if a fresh start for all parties seems like the most amicable solution.