Hector Bellerin close to joining Spanish side Real Zaragoza on loan

Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin is likely to join Real Zaragoza on loan before the new season begins.

Bellerin has impressed for the Arsenal youth sides since joining from Barcelona in the summer of 2011. The attacking right-back made his first team debut in the League Cup last season against West Brom.

The signing of Calum Chambers means that Bellerin will be fourth choice right-back unless Carl Jenkinson joins Hull City, with Steve Bruce hopeful that a £3m bid for the former Charlton Athletic defender will be enough to prize him away from Arsenal.

18-year-old Bellerin also has offers from Championship sides Middlesbrough and Brighton but Gunners boss Arsene Wenger isn’t expected to make a decision on the Spaniard’s future until after the Emirates Cup tournament next weekend.

Segunda División side Zaragoza remain the frontrunners to land Bellerin on a season-long loan deal and are hopeful of finalising a deal within the next fortnight. Reports in Spain suggest that if the move doesn’t come off they will try to sign Barcelona B’s highly-rated youngster Dani Nieto, who shares the same agent as Bellerin, instead.

Exciting full-back Bellerin travelled with the rest of the Arsenal squad to their Austrian training camp earlier today and is also expected to feature at next week’s prestigious tournament at Emirates Stadium.

According to Bellerin’s agent, the player is attracted to the possibility of playing for Zaragoza and returning to Spain if his opportunities at Arsenal will be limited next season.