Marca has recently revealed that Barcelona are eyeing a loan move for Arsenal full-back Hector Bellerin this summer. It is believed that the Catalans have identified the Spanish defender as an ideal replacement for Nelson Semedo, who has struggled to fulfil his potential at the Nou Camp thus far (via Marca).
Bellerin’s Recent Injury Frustrations At North London
The 25-year-old struggled to give a good account of himself as he was sidelined for several games because of a cruciate ligament rupture and later, a hamstring injury. The Arsenal defender appeared in 25 matches in the previous campaign, netting one goal and providing two assists across all competitions.
Bellerin managed to defend well inside his half but lacked conviction with his contributions in the final third. The Badalona-born full-back finished the season averaging 1.3 tackles, 1.3 interceptions, 1.6 clearances, 0.5 shots and 1.2 dribbles per game in the Premier League. He was even pretty tidy with his ball-distribution after completing 82.1% of his attempted passes in top-flight football (stats via whoscored).
The three-time Spanish international needs to get his career back on track by showing a clean bill of health this season. Maybe a switch to the Nou Camp could help Bellerin rekindle his form as he might flourish playing in familiar surroundings back in his homeland.
What Will The Spanish Full-Back Add To Ronald Koeman’s Team?
Bellerin boasts electric pace and has made a habit of completing some dangerous runs down the right flank. However, he needs to add more goals and assists to his game if he wants to break into the world-class bracket in the coming years.
Defensively, the Spaniard has been a real asset for the Gunners as he can be a difficult man to shrug off in a 1v1 footrace. He deserves a lot of credit for making some important interceptions and last-ditch clearances despite struggling to stay injury-free at North London recently.
Will Recruiting Bellerin Be A Wise Move For The Catalan Giants?
A right-back of Bellerin’s skillset will be a welcome addition to the Barca squad as he will be a significant upgrade over Nelson Semedo. The Arsenal defensive ace is good enough to beat Sergi Roberto in the race to secure a regular right-back berth in Ronald Koeman’s first-team. At 25, Bellerin is about to enter the prime stage of his football career, so Koeman might fancy getting the best out of him if he can find a way to bring him back to Catalonia this summer.
There is no doubt that the Spanish full-back will enhance the quality of Barca’s match-day squad and could also bring a winning mindset to their dressing room, having won the FA Cup three times with the Gunners so far. With all things considered, it seems like a wise move for Koeman to orchestrate a move to land Bellerin in this off-season.
