La Liga titans Barcelona have reportedly demanded for Hector Bellerin to wait until just short of the end of the transfer window before making a decision on his club future.
The Spaniard has been at Arsenal for just over a decade but spent last season on loan at boyhood club and fellow Spanish outfit Real Betis. While Bellerin performed well last term, it is widely believed that Betis are unable to fork out the kind of transfer fee the Gunners are asking for - thus presenting Barcelona with an opportunity to swoop.
Bellerin already has history with the Catalonia-based giants, having played for them at various youth levels before Arsenal swooped for his signature in 2011. Barcelona currently have plenty of work to do before the end of the window and do not reportedly view Bellerin as a priority as of right now.
However, if he can hold fire until the last stages of the window, Spanish outlet Sport claim that Barcelona have told him they will end his Arsenal exile and oversee a return to where it all began for the right-back. Whatever the Gunners defender does decide to do could have a knock-on impact on Manchester United's transfer dealings.
The Red Devils are rumoured to be interested in current Camp Nou right-back Sergino Dest, a figure that Barcelona boss Xavi regards as someone who is free to leave providing the club can safely secure his replacement - enter Bellerin.
With that in mind, if Bellerin opts against a switch to Barcelona and stands firm in his stance that Betis are the only club that could lure him away from the Emirates - things could get complicated for Erik ten Hag over at Old Trafford. The Dutchman understandably wants to wrap up his business as soon as possible but he may be forced to wait until late in the window to secure Dest.
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Barcelona are rumoured to have favoured a move for Villarreal right-back Juan Foyth but stood little chance given their perilous financial situation and his €42million release clause. As a result, attentions have turned to Bellerin.
It has been previously suggested that Arsenal will ask for a fee of £5m, but contrary reports have claimed Arteta will allow the defender to walk for nothing - which would certainly spark anger among the Betis hierarchy considering that is an option they have been touting all summer.
The wheels to this move will only truly start turning once an agreement between Barcelona and Bellerin is reached. Negotiations with Arsenal are not expected to prove difficult, while it will also allow Dest to make the move to Old Trafford.
Considering Bellerin is now the fourth-choice right-back at the Emirates, behind the likes of Takehiro Tomiyasu, Benjamin White and Cedric Soares in the pecking order, he is not expected to have any objection to an imminent departure.
In fact, the 27-year-old is thought to be so desperate to leave Arsenal in search of regular first-team football that he is willing to waiver the rest of his £5.7million salary on his current Gunners deal.
