Arsenal suffer huge Hector Bellerin transfer blow

Nothing is going especially right for Arsenal so far this summer and with the Premier League season fast approaching followed by the transfer deadline day, either the fans are set up for a grandstand finish or further distress.

Arsenal have to start selling. They have to start buying too, but an already difficult operation is compounded when the squad is bloated and the wage bill is being nibbled at on a weekly basis by a core of unwanted players who will not contribute next season.

With no buyers for the minefield of mediocrity that Mikel Arteta has the tread through every morning at London Colney a sale had to be sanctioned for Joe Willock. While it’s a fabulous deal, there were plenty of others who were on the chopping block ahead of him.

Hector Bellerin was one of them.

Arsenal suffer huge Hector Bellerin transfer blow with Inter signing Denzel Dumfries from PSV to end their pursuit of Spanish right-back

It’s long been known that a parting of ways was on the horizon for the Spaniard, having been close to an exit in the previous summer window only for Arteta to convince him to shun any advances and remain for another season.

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on club finances ensured any sale would be below that the Gunners had hoped for, yet still there had been strong interest in him from La Liga and Serie A with Inter leading the charge.

Bellerin informed Arsenal that the Italian side were his preference and talks have been ongoing for weeks. Originally wanting a sale, the Gunners are said to have softened their stance to a loan with obligation, with some reports even stating that a loan with option may be sanctioned just to get his wages off the bill and free up squad space.

They’ve suffered a huge blow in that regard. As per Sky Italy’s Gianluca Di Marzio and followed up by numerous journalists in Italy, Inter have now agreed terms with Denzel Dumfries and PSV Eindhoven on a deal worth around €15m including bonuses.

Fellow right-back Dumfries was one of the Netherlands’ standout performers at Euro 2020 and with his move to San Siro imminent it will end any hopes Arsenal had of selling Bellerin to the Italian champions.

This is but another crushing dent in Arsenal’s hopes of a successful window with Inter one of the few clubs in Europe who not only showed a willingness to sign Bellerin but had the financial power to meet the demands.

Equally worrying is that it appears Inter will pay PSV outright, something they were unwilling to do for Bellerin, which can be an indication of how the 25-year-old is perceived across the continent. They clearly didn’t feel he was worthy of an initial outlay.

Arsenal now have to continue working to find someone who will. They’ve got their work cut out.