Arsenal are close to sealing a deal to sell Hector Bellerin to Juventus this summer, according to reports.

Italian radio station Cadena Ser report that the two clubs held talks yesterday over the transfer of the Spain international, and are close to agreeing a £44 million deal.

Juve are keen to land Bellerin as a long-term replacement for the ageing Stephan Lichtsteiner, who is out of contract in Turin at the end of the season.

Arsenal denied Bellerin a move to Barcelona last summer, however will now cash in on the 23-year-old defender to help fund a squad rebuild over the summer.

Arsene Wenger will step down as manager at the end of the season, with a host of big names lined up to replace him, including Luis Enrique and Thomas Tuchel.

However, whoever takes the reigns at The Emirates is understood to have a limited transfer budget of around £50 million to work with over the summer, and hence will have to sell players to fund any further business.

Bellerin’s sale would add money to the transfer kitty, with the Gunners desperate to re-build their central defence, as well as add a new winger to their squad.

Selling Bellerin however would also pose the Gunners the dilemma of replacing the Spaniard.

Bellerin has been a staple of Arsene Wenger’s squad since breaking into the first team in 2014, and has missed only two of Arsenal’s 35 Premier League games this season.