Juventus have decided to give up their pursuit of Arsenal full-back Héctor Bellerín in favour of a move for Manchester United defender Matteo Darmian next summer. According to recent reports, the Serie A side are confident about their chances to sign the Italian international and have decided to pull out of the race to secure the services of the Gunners wide man.
It is being reported that Juve manager Massimiliano Allegri is keen on strengthening his defensive options when the summer transfer window opens at the end of the season. They are looking to make a swoop for Darmian, who is likely to be available after struggling to make an impact on Jose Mourinho’s first-team since arriving at Old Trafford from Torino for £16m in the summer of 2015. The Italian has featured in just 13 matches for United this season in all competitions as he has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford in recent times.
Meanwhile, Bellerin’s future with the North Londoners remains uncertain after Barcelona were also linked with a move for the 23-year-old’s signature. However, the Catalans’ interest in the player has cooled which will come as a big boost for the Gunners. The Spaniard has made 37 appearances under Arsene Wenger this season, scoring 3 goals while creating two assists in all competitions.
The Gunners have slumped to sixth place in the Premier League table, eight points shy of fifth-placed Chelsea and a massive 33 points behind league leaders Manchester City. They are in dire need of reinforcements in the summer in order to strengthen their squad and bridge the gap between themselves and the top 4 of the Premier League in the coming years. However, retaining some of their top talents should also remain a priority for Wenger’s side after the North Londoners lost Alexis Sanchez during the January transfer window.
Bellerin has regularly featured for the North London outfit this season and has played a crucial part under Arsene Wenger in recent times. Arsenal can’t afford to lose someone of his talents and should do all they can to secure his long-term future at the club. The Spaniard has incredible pace and can be deployed as a right-back or in a more advanced role on the right flank which makes him a perfect fit for the Gunners as they look to secure a Top 4 finish next season.
It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the future of Bellerin and whether Arsenal can retain his services at the Emirates Stadium for the near future.
