Long-serving player is finished at Arsenal with £50m and £30m stars linked

With Real Betis third in La Liga table and looking forward to a thrilling Europa League knockout tie against Zenit St Petersburg, Hector Bellerin’s homecoming could hardly have gone much better thus far. 

“There’s an energy in the stadium that’s difficult to describe, it’s fantastic,” Bellerin told La Liga World before grabbing up his fourth assist for the Verdiblancos in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with high-flying Rayo Vallecano. 

“It’s wonderful to be able to share the amazing atmosphere with the fans. The supporters here have so much respect for the players, they love football and the club. 

“All my family supported Betis. Everyone at home followed them. My dad and I were die-hard supporters.” 

As things stand, Real Betis will be playing Champions League football for the first time in their history next term.

Whether Bellerin is still around to hear that famous anthem echo around their iconic Benito Villamarin stadium remains to be seen. 

There is no option-to-buy clause in the deal that took the Spain international to Seville last summer.

But you get the feeling that, if Real Betis show a desire to stump up the sort of fee Arsenal want for their £22 million-rated misfit, few in North London would stand in Bellerin’s way of fulfilling a childhood dream in green-and-white. 

Has Hector Bellerin played his last game for Arsenal?

Summer signing Takehiro Tomiyasu has wasted little time in establishing himself as a bonafide fans’ favourite in Bellerin’s absence.

And while the futures of Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Cedric Soares look about as uncertain as Bellerin’s at the Emirates, the smart money is on Arsenal bringing in a new right-back to fight Tomiyasu for a place in Mikel Arteta’s starting XI. 

Tariq Lamptey, at £50 million, may be a little on the expensive side however.

Colin Dagba of Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig’s Nordi Mukiele, both of whom have been linked since the turn of the year via FM and The Athletic, should come much cheaper than the buccaneering Brighton whizzkid. 

According to Marca, Arsenal are big fans of USA international Sergino Dest too.

Barcelona’s well-publicised financial problems mean that Dest could be on the market for £30 million, just £10 million more than the La Liga giants paid Ajax for his signature 18 months ago. 

It seems all that stands between Bellerin and a permanent departure is an acceptable Betis bid and one of the aforementioned quartet signing on the dotted line at the Emirates.

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