Arsenal tell Barcelona that right-back Hector Bellerin is not for sale
The London club do not want to sell the Spain international this summer
Despite the player's will to return to Catalonia, talks will be long & complicated
Arsenal will not make things easy for Barcelona. For the moment, according to The Independent, they're not willing to negotiate with Barça over the transfer of Hector Bellerin. The right-back is not a player Arsene Wenger is prepared to leave and they are convinced he will continue at the Emirates Stadium next season.
Barça were hoping that Bellerin's movements, showing his desire to return to the Catalan club (Arsenal signed him from La Masia as a teenager), could help to convince the London club to not only sell but to reduce the 50 million euro price tag which has been touted in England.
Arsenal know that Bellerin is one of Barça's priorities this summer due to the fact that since the departure of Dani Alves last year they have not strengthened the right-back position.
New coach Ernesto Valverde, who likes to play with width, agrees with Robert Fernandez that a right-back is needed this summer. He is also in agreement with the sporting director about going after Marco Verratti.
Any move to sign the Italian is also complicated because PSG do not want to sell Verratti, even though the player himself, like Bellerin, has given signs that he would like to leave and, therefore, suggested his club begin negotiations -- Barça could pay up to 80 million euros for him.
Arsenal, with a number of the fans against Arsene Wenger and several players unsure of their futures, such as Alexis Sanchez, don't want to show any weakness in the Bellerin case and will make it as difficult as possible for Barça.
