Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin eager to terminate contract

Arsenal right-back Héctor Bellerín is reportedly looking to have his current contract terminated ahead of a likely summer exit, The Sun reports.

After falling out of favour at the beginning of last season, Bellerín remains available in the market, following a year out on loan with boyhood club Real Betis.

The Spaniard is one of a number of names expected to be moved on over the full duration of August, with Betis again leading the way in the hunt for the 27-year-old.

Barcelona are also rumoured to be in the mix but, much like their La Liga counterparts, appear reluctant to match the Gunners’ valuation.

The developments are thought to have led Bellerín and his camp to plead with the North Londoners’ hierarchy to terminate his contract, facilitating an exit for the current longest-serving Arsenal player.

After ten years at the club, the wing-back currently earns approximately £110,000-a-week at Arsenal - worth up to £5.3 million-a-year.

According to The Sun, the player’s camp are hopeful they can secure a free transfer for the unused star with the savings proposed.

Bellerín, who’s current contract expires at the end of the season, is even prepared to walk away without receiving a penny more to smoothen the process.

The release doesn’t bode well for Arsenal technical director Edu Gaspar, however, currently under pressure where outgoings are concerned.

The club have dedicated the last few weeks to departures in a bid to conjure up funds, but the Gunners’ inability to sell their fringe players for a sizeable value have again come to the fore.

Both Lucas Torreira and Bernd Leno secured departures for cut-price deals, meanwhile a free transfer for Bellerín would see the Spaniard follow in the footsteps of four other first-team players since 2021.

One of those stars, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, could be the inspiration for both Barcelona and Betis in the quest to land Bellerín on a free, as they play with the fast-approaching transfer window closure.

Cash-strapped Barça left it until the final day of the 2022 January transfer window to corner Arsenal into terminating Aubameyang’s contract, with the La Liga duo prepared to play the same cards for the full-back.

Edu has also been very vocal in the past about dressing-room outcasts, revealing that his preference is to let players go by any means necessary.

The strategy hands Bellerín and his camp a boost as we enter the final fortnight of the summer transfer window.

Bellerin's exit would join a number of players who have left Arsenal this summer.

Leno, Torreira, Alex Runarsson and Pablo Mari have exited the club in the last couple of weeks.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Reiss Nelson and Nicolas Pepe could also still leave the club.