According to a report in the Standard, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Spanish international Hector Bellerin is close to agreeing a new deal at Arsenal.

Over the recent months, the 21-year-old has been strongly linked with a move back to Barcelona and Manchester City were also keen to sign the full back after some solid Arsenal displays this season.

The report via The London Evening Standard reckons Bellerin’s new contract will see his £50,000-per-week wages increase to almost double that.

 “We are working on that and we are not far, it will be great. Let’s say ‘it is great’ when it is done.”

Bellerin in now out for at least a month after picking up an injury ankle injury in stoppage time of our recent Premier League encounter with Tottenham Hotspur. It was an unecessary challenge from Danny Rose in the closing 10 seconds of the game, but Wenger doesn’t blame Rose:

“Did Rose want to injure Bellerin? I don’t think so. He just went in for the tackle.”

The former Barcelona ace had to miss his country’s U21 games and he will also miss the upcoming crucial matches against Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain.