LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Hector Bellerin of Arsenal and Dani Ceballos of Arsenal speak during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on July 12, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Tim Goode/Pool via Getty Images)

Dani Ceballos will join Arsenal but will Hector Bellerin leave?

Sep 2, 2020

Dani Ceballos will be an Arsenal player next season with the player expected in London this week but will Hector Bellerin remain an Arsenal player?

Arsenal have reportedly opened talks with PSG after the French side tabled a £25m offer for Hector Bellerin.

The club wouldn’t mind hanging on to him, reportedly, but they would also accept the right offer while the player is said to be considering his future given his age and the fact Arsenal are doing another rebuild.

PSG approach Arsenal to sign Hector Bellerin & clubs now in dialogue. #AFC would like to keep him but will sell for right price. 25yo open to new challenge if deal struck. Could provide vital cash for targets. Details + Ceballos, AMN & more @TheAthleticUK https://t.co/pvg1QeLydS

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) September 1, 2020

Paris Saint-Germain make £25m offer for Arsenal's Héctor Bellerín. By @DaveHytner https://t.co/hzbDzJ57mk

— Ed Aarons (@ed_aarons) September 1, 2020

– Hector Bellerin at a personal crossroads, considering Arsenal exit as he's reluctant to spend prime years in rebuild
– Arsenal asking price at around £35m
– PSG preparing to make bid for Bellerin as they look to beat European rivals https://t.co/1Da3Fsot3M

— James Benge (@jamesbenge) September 1, 2020

Bellerin is currently under contract with Arsenal until 2023.

Dani Ceballos, meanwhile, will be an Arsenal player next season after an agreement was struck with Real Madrid.

Real Madrid green light expected soon for three deals.
– Dani Ceballos loan to Arsenal [clubs in contact on next hours to sign contracts].
– James Rodriguez to join Everton [Ancelotti called him again yesterday].
– Brahim Diaz to AC Milan [almost done].@realmadrid ⚪️ #transfers

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 31, 2020

Arsenal will pay a loan fee of around €4m for the season and are expected to have the same agreement in terms of covering the midfielder’s wages for the duration of his loan.

PSG have been watching Bellerin for a while

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JUNE 25: Hector Bellerin of Arsenal heads the ball during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Arsenal FC at St Mary's Stadium on June 25, 2020 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) — SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND: Hector Bellerin of Arsenal heads the ball during the Premier League match on June 25, 2020. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Neil Fissler of the Express reported at the start of July that Paris Saint-Germain had joined Juventus and Bayern Munich in holding an interest in Hector Bellerin.

PSG are looking for a right-back and the made it clear then Bellerin was among their list of targets.

These claims, however, directly contradicted noises we heard from the English media surrounding Bellerin in June.

Back then, the Mirror claimed Arsenal were keen to sign the defender to a contract extension. ESPN added that the player was on board with Arteta’s vision and wouldn’t leave this summer.

That’s not exactly hard to believe either. The 25-year-old is the Arsenal vice-captain, with a contract to 2023 and a head coach he already knows well. With the team’s fortunes seeming to improve in 2020, Bellerin may well value the stability of sticking around.

Ornstein said Arsenal wanted Bellerin to stay towards the end of July

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 18: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates with teammate Hector Bellerin after scoring his team's second goal during the FA Cup Semi Final match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on July 18, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Justin Tallis/Pool via Getty Images) — LONDON, ENGLAND: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates with teammate Hector Bellerin on July 18, 2020. (Photo by Justin Tallis/Pool via Getty Images)

Writing in the replies on a piece for The Athletic, David Ornstein claimed Arsenal want Hector Bellerin to stay as late as 21 July. That was despite reports of outside interest and the signing of Cedric Soares on a long-term deal. The club didn’t want to sell.

Earlier in July, Spanish outlet Estadio Deportivo claimed Sevilla were keeping an eye on Bellerin for a summer move.

Looking at the sources involved, I have to side with Ornstein, the Mirror and ESPN over Estadio Deportivo and the Express, however now Ornstein is saying Arsenal ARE open to selling him at the right price.

After recovering from an ACL injury and a subsequent hamstring problem, Bellerin is a regular starter under Arteta in 2020 and let’s hope that continues.