In a recent report, Sport revealed that Barcelona have begun talks to land Arsenal full-back Hector Bellerin this summer. The Catalan outfit believe that the Spanish full-back could cost them somewhere between €20m to €25m during this summer transfer period (via Sport).
Bellerin’s Injury-Struck Campaign At The English Capital
The Badalona-born right-back endured a frustrating season at North London after missing out on several high-profile matches due to a cruciate ligament rupture and later, a hamstring injury. Bellerin ended the campaign with just one goal and two assists to his name in 25 appearances across all fronts.
The three-time FA Cup winner was defensively solid but lacked the cutting edge going forward over the past year as he averaged 1.3 tackles, 1.3 interceptions, 1.6 clearances, 0.5 shots and 1.2 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Premier League last season. The 25-year-old even took care of the ball relatively well when distributing it from the right flank as evident from his pass success rate of 82.1% in the English top tier (stats via whoscored).
However, Bellerin can benefit from joining a club of Barca’s size and stature this summer as it will give him the chance to make a fresh start back in his homeland. Ronald Koeman can also make use of a player of the Arsenal star’s skill set as he will be a perfect replacement for Nelson Semedo, who could end up leaving Catalonia in this off-season.
What Will The Spanish International Bring To The Nou Camp?
Bellerin is one of the paciest full-backs in Europe and can be a constant menace for the opposition as he has developed a habit of making some energetic runs down the right flank. He has established himself as a reliable defender at the back but can sometimes struggle to influence the game in the final third when he is not playing with confidence on the pitch.
The three-time Spanish international is not shy of putting a tireless shift that sees him cover a lot of ground out on the wide areas. However, his poor injury history makes him a huge gamble for any top-flight club in Europe, including Barca.
Despite his recent injury struggles, Bellerin could turn out to be a shrewd addition to Ronald Koeman’s squad this summer as he will bring some creativity and variety to the Nou Camp. At 25, he is currently playing at his prime, so Barca can expect to get the best out of him if he can maintain a clean bill of health in the coming seasons.
Furthermore, the Spaniard will help the Catalans challenge for multiple trophies and could form an excellent wing partnership with Lionel Messi on the right side of Koeman’s first-team. Therefore, Barca should consider going all out in pursuit of the Arsenal speedster before the transfer window comes to a halt in October.
