Arsenal reportedly want to replace Hector Bellerin with Atletico Madrid defender, Sime Vrsaljko.
- Messi demanding Barca sign Bellerin
- Bellerin signed new Arsenal new last year, taking him up to 2023
- Barca not keen on £34m asking price
- Arsenal said to have lined up replacement already
Apparently, Lionel Messi is ‘demanding’ that Barcelona sign Bellerin from Arsenal and the Catalans are keen. They’re not so keen on his £34m asking price but considering the Gunners won’t be selling him this summer, it doesn’t really matter.
The 22-year-old only just signed a new long-term deal taking him up to 2023 with Arsenal at the end of last year amid speculation that his former club, Barca, wanted to bring him back ‘home’.
There’s no way that Arsenal would tie him down to a new shiny deal with increased wages if they were only going to sell him seven months later.
Vrsaljkom, 25, who Transfermarketweb claim Arsenal have lined up as a replacement, is a decent right-back and has developed well since his move to Atletico last year. However, he’s no Bellerin and he still isn’t a regular La Liga starter for Atletico, making just 14 league appearances this season.
The Croatia international’s contract with the Spanish team expires in 2021.
Napoli are also linked.