Arsenal to target Lamptey as replacement for Barcelona target Bellerin

Arsenal are considering a move for Brighton and Hove Albion’s Tariq Lamptey as a replacement for Hector Bellerin, according to the Mirror.

Bellerin, who is currently playing his seventh season as a member of the first team at Arsenal, arrived to north London from Barcelona’s youth setup in 2011, at the age of 16. He has mostly been the first choice on the right defensive flank under all three managers he’s worked with – Arsene Wenger, Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta, though injuries haven’t been exactly rare in his career.

Now 25, the Spaniard is being targeted by Barcelona with presidential candidate Joan Laporta, currently the favourite for the role, keen to bring him back to the Catalan club. Bellerin is under contract with Arsenal until the summer of 2023 and the Gunners are likely to demand a large fee for one of their key players. The sum they end up getting for his services might be used to sign Lamptey.

Five years younger than Bellerin, Lamptey joined Brighton from Chelsea’s U-23 side in January 2020 and has become a standout player in Graham Potter’s team since, with 19 appearances, one goal and four assists for the Seagulls.