INTER MILAN are stepping up their pursuit of Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin – but don’t want to commit to paying a fee.
The Italian champions are in the market for a new right-back after selling Achraf Hakimi to Paris Saint-Germain for £51million.
And they know that Bellerin is keen to move to the San Siro after falling out of favour with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta.
But Inter are only looking at a one-year loan with an option to make the deal permanent next summer.
And Arsenal want a guaranteed fee before they will even consider allowing their vice-captain and longest-serving player to leave.
It is understood that Arsenal are looking for around £15million for 26-year-old Bellerin, who still has two years remaining on his £100,000-a-week contract.
But they are willing to consider a loan deal as long as Inter commits to buying the player when their financial situation improves next year.
They have just entered into a similar arrangement with Marseille over Matteo Guendouzi, with the French club obliged to complete a £10million permanent signing at the end of his 12-month loan period.
Bellerin has made his feelings clear to Arsenal and feels the time is right to move on after joining from Barcelona’s youth academy ten years ago.
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And he is keen to revive his career in Italy after playing second fiddle to Calum Chambers for much of last season.
Once regarded as one of the finest full-backs in Europe, Bellerin’s career was halted by a serious cruciate injury which ruled him out of action for eight months in 2019.
And though he earned a surprise recall to the Spanish national team last November after a three-year absence, he failed to make Luis Enrique’s squad for the recent Euros.
Bellerin is currently in pre-season training with Arsenal in Scotland and is expected to play a part in this afternoon’s friendly against Rangers at Ibrox.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
