FC Barcelona Reignite Interest To Sign Hector Bellerin From Arsenal As Semedo Replacement

FC Barcelona are again interested in signing Hector Bellerin from Arsenal, a report claims.

Seeking a replacement for Nelson Semedo at right back, SPORT reveal on Wednesday morning that sporting director Ramon Planes has already broached the topic with his Gunners counterpart Edu, who quoted him a price between €20-25mn for the established Spain defender.

In hard times when the Blaugrana have lost €300mn in revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic, while having to call off plans to land more expensive targets such as Neymar and Lautaro Martinez, even this small fee will be a push.

Offloading players or involving them in part exchanges the only way to free up cash, then, Barcelona will depend on interest from the Premier League
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for their Portugal national team star Semedo to pull off a coup for Bellerin.

Represented by Jorge Mendes, there is a string of clubs interested in Semedo – or at least there were before Barça’s 8-2 drubbing in the Champions League at the hands of eventual winners Bayern Munich in his hometown of Lisbon almost a month ago.

With Manchester City for one, Semedo had been rumored to be part of a swap for his international positional rival Joao Cancelo and Eric Garcia, talk of which has since died down.

This week, offers have been made by Barcelona for Garcia, who can also fill in at right back but is thought of as a long-term successor to the aging Gerard Pique.

Like the legendary veteran and Garcia, Bellerin is also a La Masia graduate who decided to leave for England at an early age and try his luck elsewhere in lieu of first team opportunities.

As is often the case, Barça battle with PSG for the services of Bellerin, who is among the world’s fastest soccer players and could provide cover for Lionel Messi down their shared flank – especially if the Ballon d’Or holder is to act as a ‘false right winger’ in a new position that head coach Ronald Koeman has devised for him.

The Spanish window open until October 5, there is still plenty of time to capture Bellerin, yet you would think that Koeman wishes to incorporate him and any other new acquisitions as soon as possible with the Catalans getting their La Liga campaign underway on September 27.