Bellerin and Cancelo: The two targets to replace Dani Alves

Hector Bellerin is, without any doubt, one of the best young right-backs in Europe. He has recently turned 21 and has experienced a brutal progression this season at Arsenal. He possesses characteristics admired by all the big European clubs: he has bags of pace, a will to attack and impressive technical features. 

Barça are not foreign to his worth on the market. Just a few weeks ago, an emissary from the club contacted Bellerin’s representatives first hand to find out about the state of the negotiations in relation to a new deal at the Premier League side. It was an informal conversation which also addressed a hypothetical return to Camp Nou. 

But while Bellerin is liked, there are obstacles which would hinder a return to Barça: Arsene Wenger has pampered him since signing him from the Catalan club’s Cadete side and under no concept would he give the thumbs up to his sale. There would only be a deal if a club were willing to dig deep and they’d have to pay at least 25 million euros. The Gunners have already rejected the chance to negotiate with some clubs who have been in touch. 

Bellerin is the top target to replace Dani Alves, but he is not the only one. In recent months, Joao Cancelo’s name has also come up. He’s Valencia’s 21-year-old Portuguese right-back who has very similar characteristics to the Arsenal youngster. 

In this case, the negotiations would have to pass through Cancelo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, who is not always an easy man to negotiate with, either.