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Football London
Football London
Sport
Jamie Kemble

Arsenal have already decided on their Hector Bellerin replacement if Barcelona get transfer wish

Arsenal face the prospect of losing starting full-back Hector Bellerin amid interest from Barcelona.

According to reports in Spain, Barca presidential candidate Joan Laporta - who is favourite to win the election - has earmarked Bellerin as one of his first signings should he return to his post a Camp Nou.

And the Mirror now say that Arsenal have already earmarked their replacement for Bellerin should the Spaniard leave, either in January or in the summer.

Bellerin is under contract until 2023 at the Emirates Stadium, but he could be tempted away by Barcelona having grown up in the region and come through the La Masia academy.

If that is to be the case, then Arsenal will make a move for Brighton starlet Tariq Lamptey, according to the Mirror.

Lamptey has burst onto the first-team scene at Brighton having joined from Chelsea last January, penning a three-and-a-half-year deal and wasting no time making his mark.

The 20-year-old particularly impressed after the restart last season and has kept his place this term, making 11 Premier League appearances so far.

Lamptey is an offensive-minded full-back with lightning speed, and he has been used as a winger at times, though his defensive abilities aren't to be played down.

Given the youngster's long-term contract at Brighton, he would not come cheap for Arsenal, but the Gunners themselves could command a large fee for Bellerin.

Not that the Spaniard is for sale. Mikel Arteta is already said to have convinced the full-back to stay at Arsenal amid interest from PSG in the summer and it's clear he thinks a lot of his fellow countryman.

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