Forget it, Valverde – Barcelona must avoid signing this €35-rated former youth star at all costs
Barcelona are understood to be keen on a move for Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin and as per latest reports, the Catalan giants are edging closer to securing a summer deal for him.
With the transfer window set to reopen in a matter of months, Ernesto Valverde is scanning the market for quality options at right-back and is set to revive the club’s long-term interest in Bellerin, who has endured a series of ups and downs during his tenure with the club.
A former Barcelona youth product, Bellerin has blown hot and cold for Arsenal throughout the season so far. At a time when the Gunners are struggling so badly, every little mistake gets scrutinized and Bellerin has been under fire a lot of times for his lacklustre displays and wastefulness on the field.
Although he continues to be a regular player for Arsene Wenger’s squad, it might be better for Valverde to avoid signing Bellerin at this point. As per Transfermarkt, he is valued at €35m and that is not a small amount, by any measure.
Bellerin boasts of immense potential but he has shown flashes of brilliance quite sporadically. He is far from being consistent and it is tough to rely on a player like that. And considering how impeccable Barcelona’s performances have been this season, a player like Bellerin could actually weigh them down instead of taking them to the next level.
That is something Barcelona simply cannot afford in the next season since they will most likely be playing as the defending champions.
In the current campaign, Valverde has rotated between utilizing Sergi Roberto and Nelson Semedo as his options at right-back and to be honest, both players have done a better job than Bellerin in comparison.
With two quality defenders already vying for the spot, it does not really make sense for Barcelona to invest a significant amount of money to purchase Bellerin, who has failed to make a strong impression this season.
That said, one cannot really underestimate Bellerin. A change in environment can work wonders for most players and perhaps that is what the 22-year-old needs right now. However, even then, the deal will prove to be a rather risky endeavour and it is something Barcelona need to avoid.
Hence, if at all they are determined to boost squad depth by bringing in a new full-back, the club will have plenty of other options once the summer window commences and it might be best for the club to abandon their pursuit of Bellerin until he really proves himself.