Arsenal eye full-back swap deal with Barcelona

There are many more holes that need plugging within Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side. 

The North Londoners looked like they were rebuilding a side to compete, having spent £50 million on Brighton & Hove Albion defender Ben White.

While the signing of the 23-year-old will go some way to solving their issues in central defence, it will take time – as proved in the opening 2-0 defeat against Brentford.

The Gunners quite simply do not look ready to break into the top four and it is evident a need for more reinforcements is absolutely necessary.

Arteta appears to agree, as reports from the Daily Star are suggesting Hector Bellerin could be offered to his former club Barcelona in exchange for fellow full-back Emerson Royal.

Bellerin has made 239 appearances for The Gunners.

It’s suggested Bellerin has been agitating for an Emirates exit all summer, and has been heavily linked with a move to Serie A champions Inter Milan.

However, Simone Inzaghi’s side could not afford a deal for the experienced right-back and have instead signed PSV Eindhoven’s Denzel Dumfries for a bargain £11 million.

With Bellerin seeking for an exit, and Barcelona suffering under crippling financial issues, then an exchange involving Bellerin and Royal could be the perfect deal.

Royal previously spent two years on loan at La Liga side Real Betis, where he made 38 appearances in all competitions.

His form even earned him a place in Brazil’s Copa America squad where he made three appearances for Tite’s side that reached the final.

The 22-year-old made his first appearance for Barca when he was brought on as a substitute in the 4-2 La Liga victory against Real Sociedad.

Could a potential move to London mean that will be his first and last for the Catalans?