Manchester United have joined their neighbours in attempting to sign Arsenal right-back Héctor Bellerín this summer, according to reports in Spain.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City had emerged as the latest club wanting to sign the highly-rated defender from their Premier League rivals earlier this week, and now it appears United want to get in on the act as well.
Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo are reporting that both Manchester teams, along with Barcelona Atlético Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, are all vying for the 21-year-old’s signature.
Bellerín first broke into the Arsenal team in 2014-15 following an injury to Mathieu Debuchy before making the right-back role his own last season. In the process becoming one of the best in his position.
The Spaniard is quick, solid defensively and offers width going forward. He could certainly be an asset to José Mourinho who appears to be on the look out for a new right-back this summer. Antonio Valencia and Matteo Darmian were predominantly used there for Manchester United under Louis van Gaal last season.
His performances for Arsenal have led him to get three caps for the Spanish national team where he was part of their squad at Euro 2016 this summer.
Manchester United won’t find it easy in signing the youngster though, not only because of their rivalry with Arsenal, but the competition they face. And that’s only if the Gunners are willing to sell.
Bellerín originally joined from Barcelona, whose manager Luis Enrique is believed to want to sign back after Dani Alves moved to Juventus earlier this summer.
Atlético Madrid were runners-up in last season’s UEFA Champions League final whilst Manchester United are the only team mentioned as being interested in signing the right back, who cannot offer football in Europe’s elite club competition next season.
Bayern Munich are perhaps considering him as the long-term replacement of Philipp Lahm, with the German turning 33 in November. A move to the Bundesliga giants guarantees Champions League football each season and virtually guarantees a league winner’s medal too if the past three seasons are anything to go by.
Guardiola’s Manchester City have been linked to a number of right-backs this summer, suggesting the former-Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach is not content with either Pablo Zabaleta or Bacary Sagna for the 2016-17 season.
The report suggests that any buyer will need to splash €50 million (£43m) on Héctor Bellerín which would make the 21-year-old the most-expensive right-back, and one of the most expensive defenders in history.
It would be one of the stories of the summer should Arsenal sell Bellerín. We shall have to wait and see if there is any further movement with this rumour in the coming weeks.
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