Inter Milan chief opens up on Hector Bellerin rumours as Arsenal already prepare to replace him

Hector Bellerin has been subject to a great deal of transfer speculation over the last few months and has been linked to several of Europe’s top clubs, including Inter Milan.

As revealed by football.london last summer, the Spaniard was at a crossroads in regards to his future at the Emirates, questioning whether or not he wanted to be part of Arteta's long-term plans in north London.

Bellerin opted to stay with the Gunners and remained the undisputed right-back option for much of last season amid a battle with Cedric Soares and later with Calum Chambers.

Arsenal are willing to let him go for the right price this time around, but after what the Nerazzurri’s chief executive said about a potential deal, a move to the Serie A champions is looking unlikely.

Speaking to FC Inter news, via HITC, Giuseppe Marotta said: “We will act with peace of mind.

“We cannot make heavy investments and we will act with creativity, trying to seize any opportunities. Many clubs will not be able to spend practically anything.”

Although Inter are expected to welcome a major windfall of around £60m - providing Achraf Hakimi’s move to PSG doesn’t fall through - they are still reluctant to spend big and are looking to recoup some of the money lost as a result of the pandemic.

But even with a move to Inter unlikely, Arsenal seem to have already replaced Bellerin - not in the literal sense, but they have hinted that someone else is likely to wear the Arsenal captain’s armband when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is unfit or not playing.

The vice-captain role is one that the right-back has been in for two seasons, but with Granit Xhaka likely to leave, in addition to the fact David Luiz has already left, Arsenal’s leadership group is likely to halve before the start of next season, and selling Bellerin frees up another space as Aubameyang’s understudy.

That is likely to be Kieran Tierney, especially after what Mikel Arteta admitted back in January: "I think he can be Arsenal captain as he has the respect and admiration of every member of the staff and every player," Arteta said, as per Goal . "It is just the way he is.”