Arsenal’s Héctor Bellerín continues to be focused on a return to Real Betis, despite ‘receiving calls and approaches’ from other clubs.
That’s according to Estadio Deportivo, who cover the defender’s potential return to the Spanish club this summer.
Bellerín spent last season on loan with Betis, establishing himself as a key player under Manuel Pellegrini as they won the Copa del Rey.
Both he and Betis are keen on making his loan deal a permanent switch, but the finances are difficult for Betis at this moment in time, so Bellerín has returned to Arsenal for pre-season.
Estadio explain that he’s receiving calls and approaches from other clubs, including Villarreal, but Bellerín is ‘only thinking’ about a return to Betis.
Therefore, although there are teams willing to offer Arsenal money to sign him, there is no offer on the table as Bellerín has made his preference clear and thus stopped a potential auction from starting.
He’s waiting for his future to be resolved patiently, but it is currently being ‘held up’ by the economic demands imposed by Arsenal, who at first demanded €10m. That’s a figure Villarreal were willing to pay.
The Gunners have now lowered their demands to €4m and asked Betis for that figure in the latest round of negotiations.
The Spanish side are ‘playing their cards’ because they know that Bellerín only wants to join them. Their general sporting director, Antonio Cordón, though, has admitted ‘behind closed doors’ that Bellerín is a “difficult option”.
They are now working on bringing him back to the club for less than the €4m that Arsenal are looking for, looking to take advantage of the fact there is no auction for him.
They believe they are ‘taking the right steps’ to sign Bellerín permanently, but it is a negotiation that could run throughout the summer.
