Hector Bellerin has reportedly signed a new six-and-a-half-year contract with Arsenal. The deal will serve to ward off interest from Manchester City and Barcelona who have both been linked to the highly-rated Spaniard in recent weeks.
According to Standard Sport, the deal will double the 21-year-old’s current wages to £100,000-a-week as Arsene Wenger attempts to tie down one of his team’s most exciting players.
Contract negotiations have been swift between Bellerin’s representatives and the club, and it’s understood an official announcement will be made within the next 24 hours.
With so many of Arsenal’s past stars leaving the club in search of domestic and European glory elsewhere, Wenger will be relieved to have Bellerin commit his future to the club.
The right-back has emerged as one of the Premier League’s top defenders following his breakthrough in the 2014/15 season and continues to deliver for the Gunners.
Speaking last month, Wenger outlined his desired to hold onto his number one right-back.
“He has nearly three years to go and we always try to get the players to the level where we think they deserve to be,” he said. “So we try to extend, certainly, his contract but for me, his long-term future is here.
“I think he loves to be here and he has responsibilities already in the dressing room for such a young age.
“It’s something remarkable. I think now that you do not necessarily have to play where you were born.
“Modern life is not exactly like that and what is important is that the player meets his needs where he is and his values.
“I think he integrated very well to the values of our club and he came at a very, very young age. I think he is a real Arsenal player.”
The club remain confident that Mesut Ozil will now follow Bellerin’s lead in extending his own contract. Talks are ongoing, although no agreement has yet been reached.
Alexis Sanchez’s situation is less clear and Standard Sport claims both players are seeking a wage packet well beyond £200,000-a-week.
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