Hector Bellerin and Arsenal are set for talks to clarify his future amid interest from Real Betis and Atletico Madrid in Spain.
Spanish outlet Estadio Deportivo reports that Arsenal right-back Bellerin will make contact with his club to clarify his future this week.
Bellerin is returning to London Colney for pre-season training today, as the first Arsenal senior players begin their fitness preparations for the new campaign.
According to Estadio Deportivo, Arsenal were hoping to bring in €8-10m for Bellerin's sale this summer.
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The 27-year-old is in his prime years as a footballer, and he had a strong loan with Real Betis last season.
Making 32 appearances in all competitions, Bellerin provided five assists - most notably in Betis' victorious Copa del Rey final.
Yet all the current indications are that the Gunners won't bring in the kind of fee they want.
Italian clubs Juventus, AS Roma, and Fiorentina were all interested in Bellerin at one stage, but they're now focusing on other targets.
Reports this week have linked Atletico Madrid with interest in Bellerin, but ED claim Bellerin is prioritising a return to Betis.
As a result, Atletico are considering other targets like Nahuel Molina of Udinese.
Betis are therefore the favourites for Bellerin's signature by default, though it's unclear whether they can actually afford a deal.
It doesn't seem impossible that Arsenal decide they'd rather keep Bellerin around this season.
If they can't even bring in a few million pounds for the right-back, he's probably worth more to the squad as an alternative to Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Tomiyasu spent large parts of last season out injured, so Bellerin would have played plenty of football if he'd stayed.
It may well be the same in the upcoming campaign, though Arsenal do have Cedric Soares and young prospect Brooke Norton-Cuffy as alternatives.
For the time being, with no deal agreed, Bellerin will presumably take part in pre-season fixtures with the Gunners.
In the absence of a transfer, it's not hard to imagine that situation developing into a decision to keep him around for one more year.
Bellerin's contract with Arsenal expires in 2023, so he may decide it's beneficial to keep his options open for a free transfer at that stage.
The talks this week should bring a bit of clarity to the matter, and perhaps get both parties moving more seriously on his next steps.
Topics: Hector Bellerin, Real Betis, Atletico Madrid, Arsenal
Dan Critchlow