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Arsenal suffer transfer deadline day blow as Tottenham block Hector Bellerin exit
Arsenal are desperate to offload Hector Bellerin.
Gunners player ratings: Man City 5-0 Arsenal
Arsenal could see their efforts to offload Hector Bellerin scuppered after Tottenham made their own transfer proposal. Spurs are hoping to sell Serge Aurier and Real Betis, who had a move arranged to land the Gunners star, are keener on the Frenchman.
Arsenal have suffered a deadline day disaster after Tottenham’s own transfer plans look set to block a major exit at the Emirates.
The Gunners had agreed a deal that would see Bellerin sign for Real Betis on loan with an option to buy.
The Spaniard has fallen off the radar at the Emirates and Mikel Arteta was hoping to offload to make room in his squad for others.
Bellerin has yet to feature for Arsenal this season and does not figure in the manager’s plans amid their attempts to sign Bologna star Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Real Betis had made an offer that would see Bellerin sign for the season, a club that the Spaniard has already admitted are his boyhood team.
But according to the Daily Star, Tottenham have offered Betis the chance to sign Aurier - a right-back they are also desperate to sell.
The Frenchman has entered the final year of his contract in north London and has been told by Nuno Espirito Santo that he is not part of his plans.
After agreeing a deal to sign Emerson Royal from Barcelona, that will further push Aurier down the pecking order.
Initially, Spurs had struggled to offload Aurier but they believe they have found a suitor in Real Betis.
That will come as a blow to Arsenal, who would see their agreement to loan them Bellerin ended.
The Gunners have something of a right-back crisis with so many on their books but none in Arteta’s plans.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles has already stated that he would like to leave after being marginalised by the Spaniard.
While Calum Chambers and Bellerin are unfancied in the position too, leaving Cedric Soares as the only option.
Tomiyasu can play right-back and centre-back but Arteta is believed to prefer him on the right-hand side of a back-three.