Arsenal hold talks over cancelling Hector Bellerin's contract as he seeks to stay at Real Betis

Arsenal have held talks with the agents of defender Hector Bellerin over cancelling his contract, with the 27-year-old full-back keen to stay at Real Betis.

Bellerin has fallen out of favour with Mikel Arteta, despite being the club's longest serving player, and his representatives are hoping to negotiate the cancellation of his contract at the club.

Having spent the season with the Seville outfit, Betis are eyeing up a free transfer should his deal be terminated in north London.

With the arrival of Japanese international Takehiro Tomiyasu last summer from Fiorentina, Bellerin saw his position in the squad slip further from the starting line-up, and was duly sent out on loan with Cedric Soares providing back-up.

And the right-back flourished at Betis providing five assists in 32 games for the Spanish side in all competitions as Los Verdiblancos won the Spanish Cup.

Bellerin is one of several players thought to be on their way out of the Emirates with this summer as Arteta looks set to continue his shape up of the Gunners' squad and remove any dead wood.

Since the start of the 2020-21 season 17 players have been either sold or released, including the likes of big-money signings Mesut Ozil, Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

So far this window the Gunners have sold Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi, Bernd Leno and Konstantinos Mavropanos, with Lacazette returning to boyhood club Lyon on a free transfer.

Bellerin is not the only player who could be on their way out, with Pablo Mari close to a move to Serie A, as record signing Nicolas Pepe and the versatile Ainsley Maitland-Niles are also thought to be on the chopping block in order for Arteta to raise further funds.

The north London club have already spent over £100million this window, including deals for former Manchester City players Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, both of whom played under Arteta as Pep Guardiola's assistant manager.

Having joined the Gunners from boyhood club Barcelona in 2013, Bellerin has won three FA Cups and three Community Shields, scoring nine goals and assisting 29 more in 239 games.

Arsenal are reportedly keen on bringing in Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali from Serie A champions AC Milan, although Stefano Pioli is keen to keep the 22-year-old at the club.

Serie A champions Milan would consider sanctioning a sale should Arsenal meet their £46million asking price, according to Calcio Mercato.