Arsenal to offer Héctor Bellerín new contract

Arsenal are prepared to offer Héctor Bellerín a new contract, according to John Cross. The 21-year old signed a new deal before the beginning of this past season that extended his contract to 2019, and following an excellent first full season as Arsenal's right back, Arsenal are hoping to tie him down for longer--probably until 2021. A new contract would be just rewards for Bellerín, who was one of Arsenal's most consistent players, and was named to the PFA Team of the Year. Along with fellow fullback, Nacho Monreal, Bellerín was one of the top three players of Arsenal's season (after Mesut Özil, of course). Furthermore, apparent interest from Barcelona makes offering Bellerín a new contract sensible, even if the youngster has insisted he is perfectly happy at Arsenal.

Bellerín has taken advantage of injury to Dani Carvajal to be in Spain's squad for the European Championships, playing in all three warm up matches, and any new contract would likely be negotiated following the tournament's conclusion. Bellerín has also been the subject of interest from Manchester City, which is not surprising: both Bacary Sagna and Pablo Zabaletta are over 30, and Bellerín qualifies as a homegrown player--just another reason for Arsenal to tie him up to a new contract.