Manchester City to lure Hector Bellerin to Etihad

 

Arsenal face a setback after Manchester city’s new coach Pep Guardiola launched a bid to lure Hector Bellerin to the Etihad.

According to the mirror sports, the Gunners are unhappy and have send a warning to the City’s chief negotiator Txiki Begiristain and the director of football.

Arsenal promised the Spaniard improved terms in April as a reward for his outstanding campaign last season.

However the contract talks over the terms of a five-year deal have failed to make much progress and Arsenal feel City’s interest has complicated the negotiations.

Guardiola is a big admirer of Bellerin and his fellow Catalan was at Barcelona ’s famed academy when he was in charge at the Nou Camp before he left to join Arsenal in 2011.

Bellerin, 21, would be a perfect fit for Guardiola and Begiristain knows his agent Albert Botines because two of his clients are City youngsters Erik Sarmiento and Paolo Fernandes.

Arsenal are determined to tie Bellerin down to the Emirates to ward off any more advances for him and they have already rebuffed a bid from Barcelona.

Bellerin enjoyed a tremendous season for the Gunners and is now attracting Pep Guardiola's attention

Barca enquired about taking Bellerin back to the Nou Camp at the end of last season and their interest was flatly rejected by the Gunners.

Rivalry

Bellerin signed a long-term deal 12 months ago and Arsenal want to recognise the strides he made last season when he emerged as one of the best young full-backs in Europe.

This latest fall-out between City and Arsenal has added to the bad blood between the Premier League rivals.

Arsenal were unhappy with City’s signing of Samir Nasri in 2011, which turned into a transfer saga that summer.

They were also annoyed when then City boss Roberto Mancini openly talked about his desire to sign Robin van Persie before he quit the Emirates in 2012 to join Manchester United .