Barcelona are exploring their options as they attempt to sign Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin this summer.

Sport Witness carries a report from Marca, claiming that the club are looking to sign a replacement for Nelson Semedo, who could move on in this transfer window.

What’s the word?

Barca are plotting the sale of Semedo in this transfer window and are already on the lookout for replacements.

Bellerin has emerged as a possible target as a result and the club are trying to structure a deal that will see him move to Camp Nou.

It has even been suggested that he could move on loan, with Barca taking on his wages for the entirety of the campaign.

"

Cameo Clubs: Which obscure teams did these football legends play for?

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

"

Ronald Koeman is said to have been in touch with Bellerin and if there is no agreement over a loan, there is a back-up plan.

That would see Barcelona attempt to buy Bellerin on a permanent deal, though they are insistent on including one of their players in any deal.

Arsenal’s transfer woe

This would be a terrible deal for Arsenal, who have seen a number of players depart for bigger clubs in recent years.

Think of the likes of Robin van Persie, Thierry Henry, Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The flipside for them is that they received a big fee in every deal; sending Bellerin away on loan would be a nonsense of the highest order.

He remains an integral member of the squad who can perform at a remarkably high level despite a number of injury issues.

Last season, he even captained the club in their Europa League games against Standard Liege and Vitoria Guimaraes.

They can ill-afford to lose him on this kind of deal.