Arsenal are prepared to offer star right-back Hector Bellerin a bumper 5-year deal to ward off interest from Barcelona. The Gunners have initiated contact with the Spaniard's agents and formal talks are scheduled for later this month according to reports.
Bellerin still has 3 years on his current contract but Arsene Wenger wants to offer him a two-year extension with a pay bump to keep him at the football club. The youngster currently earns about £30,000 per week but that could rise significantly with the new deal.
The 21-year-old has risen rapidly through the ranks since his arrival from Barcelona and has become possibly one of the best right-backs in the Premier League. Barcelona and Manchester City have shown interest in securing the Spaniard’s services but he has stated that he is currently happy at the Emirates. With Wenger future in doubt with the Frenchman;s contract running out at the end of the season, though, Bellerin may not want to start life under a new manager and could be looking for a move abroad.
Since his arrival at the Emirates, Bellerin has made over 60 appearances in all competitions and has also managed to break into the Spanish national team, having made 3 appearances. He has contributed with 3 goals and 7 assists in those matches; impressive numbers indeed for a defender.
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Pep Guardiola reportedly enquired about the Spanish starlet’s availability over the summer but Arsenal stated vehemently that he was not for sale. Bellerin has been one of Arsenal’s best players in the last 2 seasons and Wenger will definitely not want to lose a player of his calibre any time in the near future.
Apart from Bellerin, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez ,too, are in the process of negotiating new contracts. Deals had initially stalled prior to the Euros and due to the players’ extravagant demands but it seems that they are finally moving forwards. Gunners fans will be delighted with the fact that Arsenal are finally looking to hold on to their best players after seeing the likes of Cesc Fabregas,Samir Nasri, and Robin Van Persie leave in recent years.
Arsenal had a shaky start to the new Premier League campaign with a home defeat to Liverpool followed by a draw at Leicester but they have gone on to win 5 on the trot since then to rise to third in the table, just 2 points off early pace-setters Manchester City.
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