Hector Bellerin negotiates free transfer away from Arsenal

Arsenal full-back Héctor Bellerín remains in negotiations with the North London club ahead of a potential free transfer to Spain, according to ESPN.

The right-back emerged as one of the bigger names braced for an exit this summer after being loaned out last season to Real Betis.

Having confirmed the season-long-loan switch of Nicolas Pépé to OGC Nice, the Gunners have ploughed ahead in their quest to free up more of their fringe players.

The likeliest to follow Pépé out the door are Ainsley Maitland-Niles, linked with a handful of Premier League clubs, and Bellerín, continuing to generate interest in Spain.

But meanwhile the likelihood of Maitland-Niles leaving increases with each passing day, Bellerín’s future appears a little more complicated to solve as he enters talks with the Gunners.

According to ESPN journalist James Olley, the Spain international is locked in negotiations with the North Londoners, angling for a move away from the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta on Bellerín’s future: “There are still a few players that obviously we are discussing their futures. We will try to find the best solution for all parties.” #afc pic.twitter.com/gfGdjW6VgO

— afcstuff (@afcstuff) August 26, 2022

As reported previously, Bellerín’s hopeful of following the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Özil in leaving Arsenal on a free transfer.

Behind the right-back’s will is the aim to facilitate a transfer back to Spain.

Barcelona and Betis, both former clubs of Bellerin's, are circling for his signature.

The pair are currently each struggling to comply with La Liga’s strict financial fair play rules, which impedes you from registering players unless they fit within imposed financial limitations.

As Arsenal struggles to come to an agreement with the La Liga duo, the wing-back is chasing a mutual agreement that would enable him to join his future club on a free transfer.

A source close to the deal has described the negotiations as “complicated,” however, as the player bats away interest from other clubs.

Barcelona and Betis lead the chase in a move that would see Bellerín either return to his first professional team, or his boyhood club, whom he represented 32 times last season.

The Evening Standard believes Betis hold the advantage over the Catalan giants by offering the 27-year-old greater guarantees of first-team football upon a potential swift return.

Bellerín’s departure would see Arsenal wave goodbye to their current longest-serving player.

The right-back has featured a total of 221 times since joining the Gunners in 2011 on a free transfer from Barcelona’s academy.