da 888： According to Marca, Arsenal will be offered the chance to sign Barcelona midfielder Rafinha this summer, providing that Hector Bellerin moves in the opposite direction.
What’s the story?
da dobrowin： Bellerin only signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal earlier this year, but it is understood that the 22-year-old is desperate to return to Camp Nou.
The full-back, who is currently with Spain Under-21s at the Under-21 European Championships, came through the youth system at Barcelona before leaving for Arsenal in 2011.
Bellerin’s future has been the subject of much speculation in recent weeks, and according to Marca, Barcelona are preparing to offer Arsenal the chance to sign Brazilian midfielder Rafinha as part of the deal.
Rafinha, who has also been linked with Liverpool, managed seven goals in 28 appearances in all competitions last season, but he missed the last few months of the campaign with a knee injury.
Would it be a good deal for Arsenal?
According to Marca, Barcelona are prepared to offer Rafinha and a cash sum for Bellerin this summer in a bid to convince Arsenal to part with the Spain international.
Bellerin actually struggled to get into the Arsenal team in the latter stages of last season when head coach Arsene Wenger swapped to a 3-5-2 formation, although the full-back is still highly-regarded at the Emirates Stadium.
Barcelona are a pull for any player, however, especially one that grew up at La Masia.
Losing Bellerin would be difficult for a number of Arsenal supporters to accept, but Rafinha’s arrival in the Premier League would certainly be a big boost.
It has been claimed that Rafinha, who is valued at £13m by transfermarkt.co.uk, “is not convinced” by talk of a move to Liverpool, although the Brazil international would be open to discussions with the Premier League outfit.
The pull of London is often seen as important for foreign players, however, and if Arsenal and Barcelona can pull off a player-plus-cash deal for Rafinha and Bellerin, both could move forward heading into the 2017-18 campaign.