According to Italian media outlet FC Inter News, Atletico Madrid are interested in Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin.
The Gunners full-back is currently the Mikel Arteta-led side’s first-choice right-back, however, he has never been the same since his return from injury recently. It has been a season to forget for the 25-year-old full-back as he has struggled to make it into the first-team line-up this season mostly due to injuries and fitness related issues.
Hector Bellerin has looked a shadow of his past since suffering a cruciate ligament injury last year. (Getty Images)Bellerin, who is the obvious first-choice man when fit, has so far featured just eight times in the league this season. Bellerin, who missed the half of last season and this season in total after sustaining a cruciate ligament tear back in January 2019 made a return to action last September. However, he soon contracted a hamstring injury that further restricted him into the sidelines.
Bellerin, who until last season was a regular first-choice in the right-back role in Gunners’ previous campaigns has looked a shadow of his former self ever since. This had seen coach Arteta relying on his centre-back’s Sokratis, Rob Holding and Calum Chambers to start in the right as per the team’s requirements.
Meanwhile, Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid are in pursuit of an attacking right-wing back and Bellerin fits the role perfectly. Bellerin himself is more of an attack-minded wingback than a defensive one and has on numerous occasions played a little upfront across the flanks for Gunners.
Bellerin, who joined Arsenal in 2011 from the Barcelona academy, has featured 32 times in the right midfield for the Gunners, prompting Simeone to go in search of the full-back.
Moreover, Atletico’s newcomer Kieran Trippier is 29 already and does not have too many years left in his side. The side’s other two wing-backs – Santiago Arias and Sime Vrsaljko have fallen behind Trippier and have failed to impress when given a chance.
Bellerin’s arrival would moreover offer good competition for a starting role in the side for Trippier and thereby give Simeone plenty of options to choose from. Ninth-placed Arsenal, on the other hand, has been one of the defensively poor sides in the top-ten sides in the Premier League this season.
Inconsistency at the back has seen the side concede as many as 36 goals from their 29 league outings and they clearly need a more established defender if they wish to improve their performance next season. Hence, offloading Bellerin does not seem a major setback as Arsenal could make full advantage of Atletico’s interest in him and find themselves a suitable replacement.
Considering the fact that Bellerin still has four-five years left in his career, the Gunners could still sell him for a good bargain. Moreover, the money could also be used to improve other areas of the squad that need a reshuffle.
Considering Arsenal’s displays at the back this season, they need new defensive reinforcements and Bellerin clearly does not fit in that mould. Moreover, Bellerin’s game has never looked the same since sustaining that major injury. Hence, they should sell him with Atletico hot on his trail and use that money to look for potential suitors.
