Arsenal round-up: Hector Bellerin a leading target; Kieran Gibbs asking price; shirt sponsor search

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Hector Bellerin continues to be linked to Barcelona, as the Mirror report that he is the number one summer transfer target for the Spanish club. They believe that they will be able to convince the 22-year-old to return to the Nou Camp where he started his career in the academy before moving to Arsenal. However, the Gunners don’t want to sell him and are likely to resist any bids that are launched. Los Cules may be ready to offer Arda Turan and Denis Suarez in a part exchange.

This does have the feel of a saga that will run and run into the summer window. Although he is one of the club’s more expendable players, the Gunners won’t be keen to lose him as he does have a lot of potential. He finished the season out of the team, but there is belief that he can bounce back and improve significantly next campaign. That said, if the offer is too good to refuse, they should accept it and give the money to Arsene Wenger, as he tries to reshape the squad.

One player that the club won’t fight as hard to keep is Kieran Gibbs. There is interest from Watford, Stoke City, Newcastle United and Brighton, while the left-back is open to leaving the club in search of regular minutes on the pitch. The Evening Standard report that for a sale to happen, Arsenal will have to lower their asking price, as no team is willing to meet the valuation of £15 million. This is due to there being only one year left on his current deal at the Emirates Stadium.

As there are four clubs in the race to sign him, Arsenal can afford to play the waiting game to see if one of the interested teams blinks first. £15 million isn’t a bad price for him, especially as he is English and has a lot of experience to his name. There is no longer a need for him at the Emirates Stadium after the signing of Sead Kolasinac, but that doesn’t mean that the club should sell him to the first team that comes in with an offer.

Arsenal will need to find a new shirt sponsor, despite the current deal with Emirates having two years to run. The company only want to continue with the stadium naming rights deal. According to the Daily Mail, the airline have become disgruntled with football and are expected to not renew their FA Cup partnership either.

This would suit the Gunners as they will have a chance to maximise their income by seperating the shirt sponsor from the stadium naming rights holder. The global reach of the Premier League should help them increase their revenue and they will be hoping to find a deal that will come close to matching Manchester United, who currently bring in £53 million from Chevrolet. Although the television money is huge, clubs need to maximise their commercial partnerships and Arsenal have an opportunity to do that now.

Featured image: All rights reserved by Stuart MacFarlane