Barcelona are ready to include Arda Turan in a deal to land Hector Bellerin.
New Barca boss Ernesto Valverde has told the club’s hierarchy he would like Bellerin in his squad, which has seen talks progress.
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22-year-old Bellerin is a Barcelona-native and left his hometown club for Arsenal in 2011, and has since progressed through the ranks to become first choice at The Emirates.
However, Bellerin has not hidden his desire to move back to the Camp Nou this summer and speaking in Spain – where he is on international duty, he has confirmed that desire again.
“It fills me with joy to interest the best in the world,” said Bellerin.
“It’s a great thing to know about the interest of a club like Barca, the club where I grew up. I don’t know anything at the moment. I’m an Arsenal player and we’ll see what happens.
“It’s always been very good in London, my family settled there with me, although now, for family reasons, they have had to return to Barcelona. I have a tougher time now because I’m a family person, I depend on them a lot, and it’ll be a new challenge to be without them.
“As a player, the club haven’t told me anything, there has still not been any contact. A lot can happen this summer.”
Then speaking of Ernesto Valverde, he said, “He likes good football and will be a great coach for Barca.”
And Barca are hoping that they can use Turan who would be worth almost half the deal with Arsenal understood to be wanting £45million for Bellerin.
The 30-year-old Turk is not believed to be in the plans of new Barca coach Valverde, and now a move to London looks a real option – with Arsenal, who showed a strong interest in him last summer.
Bellerin is rated at Evens to sign for Barca this summer with SkyBet – whilst Turan is 6/4 to head in the other direction.