Revealed: How Barcelona's Bellerin transfer could help Man Utd

24 Aug 2022 11:20 BST
3 min read

Arsenal's Hector Bellerin is wanted by Barcelona — © ProShots

Barcelona want to sign Hector Bellerin from Arsenal. Manchester United are keeping a close eye on the situation.

Barcelona have been busy in the summer transfer market, signing Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde for a combined €165 million whilst picking up Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie on frees.

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But Xavi still wants to sign a right-back, and Arsenal's Hector Bellerin has moved to the top of Barcelona's list, the La Masia academy graduate likely available on a free transfer after spending last season on loan at Real Betis.

FLAMIN' HEC! 🔥@HectorBellerin: The Flash ⚡️#ARSCHE pic.twitter.com/MHuWEeIV4o
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 19, 2019

Barca opened the campaign with Ronald Araujo - a centre-back by trade - playing right-back in the goalless draw with Rayo Vallecano. Xavi then moved to a back three for Sunday's 4-1 win at Real Sociedad, but his preferred formation remains 4-3-3.

The fact Xavi would rather play a player out of position or change his system than lean on Sergino Dest shows how much he trusts the young American right-back, but Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag remains a fan.

Dest-iny

Ten Hag handed Dest his debut at Ajax in July 2019 - in victory over PSV Eindhoven in the Johan Cruyff Shield - and he made 38 appearances in two seasons before his €27m move to Barcelona in October 2020.

But while Dest had the faith of Xavi's predecessor as coach Ronald Koeman, he has struggled to convince the Barca legend as a right-back, and was even used in attack at times last season as the 38-year-old Dani Alves occupied his preferred role.

Bellerin's arrival at Camp Nou would push Dest even closer to the exit door, and he could plausibly be picked up for cheaper than the €28m he is rated at by Football Transfers' sophisticated inhouse algorithm.

Barca were also reportedly interested in Villarreal's Juan Foythe and Borussia Dortmund's Thomas Meunier, but Foythe's €42m release clause is prohibitively expensive and it's too late in the window for BVB to find an alternative in the position.

Bellerin's arrival could fix a problem at right-back at Camp Nou, and Old Trafford.