Arsenal star Hector Bellerin says London is “the place he wants to be right now” ahead of another summer where his future looks set to be the subject of extensive debate.

The Spanish defender is a target for Juventus and, at 23 with a contract until 2023, is one of Arsenal’s most valuable assets, worth in excess of £50million.

That has led to speculation his departure could top up a transfer fund that significantly depreciated in January with the signings of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan and a £350,000-a-week deal for Mesut Ozil.

Bellerin was keen on a move to his boyhood club Barcelona last summer, though whether they would come back in for him this summer is not entirely clear, but is settled and happy in London.

Asked about whether he might be ready to move on Bellerin ‘said in an interview with luxury online retailer Mr Porter: “I don’t know what to say – football always changes. I’m so happy here.

“This has been my home for seven years. I sound like a Londoner, my friends are from London – it’s the place I want to be right now.

“In the future, you never know. Obviously, I grew up in Barcelona, and when I watch them play I want them to win. The team are always going to be in my heart.”

Bellerin has endured a challenging run of form this season and even recent matches where he has impressed have been followed by frustrating errors, most notably in the Europa League semi-final second leg defeat to Atletico Madrid.

Indeed the 23-year-old has struggled for consistency ever since suffering an ankle injury in November 2016 which he did not fully shake off throughout that season.

For a player who was heralded as world football’s best young right-back when he burst onto the scene in 2015 it has been a tough adjustment process.

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“At the beginning, I was someone who was doing really well,” he said. “Then when things started going not that well, everything was just negative, negative, negative.

“As a team, if you don’t have the best season, it doesn’t help…It’s been a tough one.

“We were doing well until November. We always have that period where we suffer a little bit. As a team, the most important thing is results. If you can win beautifully like [Manchester] City do – even better.”

Read the full interview with Hector Bellerin from Thursday 10th May at www.mrporter.com