Real Betis will be able to sign Hector Bellerin from Arsenal for less than the €10m figure that’s been quoted in England.
That’s according to Estadio Deportivo, who do, however, admit that Betis’ chances could be heavily reliant on them finishing in the Champions League places.
Bellerin has been on loan at Betis since the summer after leaving Arsenal when it was made clear he would not get game time under Mikel Arteta.
He’s been a huge hit in Seville, starring for his boyhood club and playing a key role under Manuel Pellegrini.
Estadio says he’s ‘having fun’ at the Spanish club and is now ‘idolised’ by the fanbase, particularly after their success in the Copa del Rey.
He has ‘only one wish’, and that is to stay where he is beyond the summer, something Arsenal have been made aware of.
He still has a year on his contract at the Emirates, and Arsenal do not want Bellerin to come back, so those factors both work in Betis’ favour.
The only major issue would be the Gunners’ asking price, which reports in England have recently put at €10m. That, though, is wide of the mark, according to Estadio.
They say that sources close to Bellerin have insisted he would ‘leave for much less’ than that figure as the player would push for his price to be lower.
That’s because he wants what’s best for the club, and so the lower the price, the better it will be for them, particularly if they don’t qualify for the Champions League as their finances are already tight.
Bellerin is also willing to lower his wage demands – he earns €9m a year gross at Arsenal – although he wants to be ‘respected’ on that front.
Betis are not his only option as other clubs are ‘interested’, but they are the one club he wants to ‘take care of’ and so will ‘make an effort’ for in order to get a deal over the line.
There is an ‘intention and desire’ from him and the club to ‘reach a compromise’ and strike an agreement with Arsenal to make his move a permanent one this summer.
