Just in: Barcelona outcast wanted by Sporting CP, player open to move – Ornstein

According to a report from The Athletic’s David Ornstein, out-of-favour Barcelona defender Hector Bellerin has emerged as a transfer target for Sporting CP. The Portuguese outfit are looking at the Spaniard as a possible replacement for Pedro Porro.

Bellerin has been at Barcelona since the summer window, when he arrived on a free transfer from Arsenal. However, the 27-year-old has been unable to win over the trust of manager Xavi Hernandez and has played less than 500 minutes this season.

Bellerin signed just a one-year contract with Barça in the summer and the club have no intention to offer him a renewal, meaning he would be free agent in the summer.

But given that he is no longer a major of plans at the club, the former Arsenal man is open to leaving the club this month itself. While he would ideally prefer a move to Real Betis, Bellerin is aware that a transfer to the Seville-based outfit will be complicated.

Now, Sporting CP have emerged as a possible destination for the Barcelona outcast.

The Portuguese giants are likely to lose Pedro Porro, a player who interestingly had been linked with Barça, to Tottenham Hotspur imminently. They are on the lookout for replacements for the 23-year-old Spaniard and Bellerin has popped up as an option.

The update from Ornstein claims that Sporting were interested in Tariq Lamptey, but Brighton & Hove Albion have no intentions to let the Ghanaian international leave.

It has seemingly forced them to turn their attention towards Bellerin, with the Barcelona misfit said to be open on making the jump to the Portuguese club.

However, there has been no direct contact between the two clubs. And with just a few days left before the transfer window slams shut, only time will tell if there is any progress on this front.