Hector Bellerin’s agent, Alberto Botines, has divulged that the 21-year-old is all set to extend his contract with the Gunners. Botines revealed that contract negotiations have been going on with the Arsenal hierarchy and an agreement over the extension is on the horizon.
"We are speaking and are now a lot closer than we were two weeks ago. In a normal situation he will sign," Botines told The Guardian. "Hector is very happy at Arsenal. This would be the fourth time he has signed a new contract at the club and it is clear he has made good progress."
The right-back is a product of Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy and he left the reigning Spanish champions to join Arsenal in 2011. Bellerin has been rumoured to be a target for his former club who still haven’t found an ideal replacement for Brazilian full-back, Dani Alves who moved to Juventus this summer.
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Sergi Roberto, who currently plays in the right back position for Barcelona, has looked far from convincing in his recent performances and Aleix Vidal’s Barcelona career is almost over as the club will most probably let him go in the next transfer window.
Bellerin is keen on staying at Arsenal
Despite the interest from the Catalan giants, Bellerin is keen to extend his stay at the Emirates.
"If I wanted to play there I would have stayed there,” Bellerin recently told The London Evening Standard. "I was very happy when Arsenal showed interest in me and I decided to come here. I'm not looking back, I'm just looking to help Arsenal. It's nice for a player to know that big teams want you, but I'm very happy here.”
Barcelona are now linked with a host of right-backs including Joao Cancelo, Serge Aurier and Cedric Soares now that a move for Bellerin looks unrealistic. The young Spaniard is also on the wishlist of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, but he too will have to look for targets elsewhere.
Pay rise for Hector; Ozil close to extension
The Gunners are glad that the Spaniard snubbed his former club and are set to reward him with a significant pay rise. Arsenal fans will be delighted that the club has managed to hold on to their prized asset who is one of the best right-backs in the league, even at such a young age.
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Bellerin has made 87 appearances for the Gunners and has found the back of the net thrice.
Arsenal are also closing in on an agreement with Mesut Ozil over a deal that will make him the highest-paid player at the club and they are also rumoured to begin talks with Alexis Sanchez to extend the Chilean’s stay at the club.
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