Hector Bellerin still on Barcelona radar after Benfica demand too much for Nelson Semedo
Reports suggest Blaugrana have now pulled out of the race for Semedo after Portuguese club demanded £48million
BARCELONA are said to be retraining their sights on Hector Bellerin.
The Catalan giants were thought to have stolen a march on Manchester United in pursuit of Benfica right-back Nelson Semedo.
But say that the Blaugrana have now pulled out of the race after the Portuguese club demanded too much for the 23-year-old.
Benfica have slapped a £48million price tag on Semedo's head.
And that could force Barca to step up their attempts to prise Bellerin back from Arsenal.
New boss Ernesto Valverde is in the market for a right-back after Sergi Roberto and Aleix Vidal failed to make the spot their own last season.
Bellerin was a long-term target of former boss Luis Enrique.
But he is yet to agitate for a move away from the Emirates out of loyalty to Arsene Wenger.
The chances of Bellerin moving this summer still appear remote.
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Wenger has signed on for another two years in north London.
And Bellerin signed a new six-year deal worth £100,000 a week in November.
He had earlier denied that he had any interest in returning to Barca, who he left when he was 16.
Bellerin said: “If I wanted to play there I would have stayed there.
“I was very happy when Arsenal showed interest in me and I decided to come here.
“I’m not looking back, I’m just looking to help Arsenal.”