Hector Bellerin is in talks with Arsenal to terminate his contract, according to football journalist Matte Moretto.
The Spaniard spent last season on loan at Real Betis, where he became increasingly adored by the fans, and where he in turn grew to love them and the city.
With that successful loan spell Los Verdiblancos are keen on bringing the 27-year-old back to the club, but are reluctant to spend a fee.
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According to Moretto, the once Hale End scholar is looking to drive his price as low as possible:
“The idea is to go out at the lowest possible cost, even for free.
“The player wants to leave. In addition to Betis, there are other interested clubs.
"The salary, 4M € net, a problem.”
An unfortunate precedent has been set with the termination of contracts in recent times.
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Clubs now perceive low-balling the Gunners, or asking for a contract termination as a distinct possibility.
However, technical director Edu has spoken out about the necessity of the contract terminations, and how they are an investment in and of themselves:
“If you imagine, ‘Oh, no problem, this season we’re going to expose the player a little bit more, then we sell them’ - no, be realistic.
“Try to avoid one more year with the problem inside, in the dressing room, expensive, not performing.
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"Clean, take it out.
“Even, I’m sorry, if you have to pay. To leave is better. I know it’s strange when I go to the board & say, ‘Sometimes it’s better to pay a player to leave than maintain them’, but I consider it an investment."
“People say, ‘It’s expensive’. I say, ‘No, it’s investment’.”
Whether the potential termination of Bellerin’s contract will be seen as an “investment” only time will tell.
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However, with Tomiyasu, White and Saliba all adept all performing in the right back role, combined with Arteta’s trust of experienced Portuguese defender Cedric Soares, game-time appears virtually non-existent for the Spaniard.
If he were to be in the Gunners squad for the season curtain-raiser against Crystal Palace next week, it would be greeted with great surprise.
Topics: Arsenal, Hector Bellerin, Real Betis, Transfers