Barcelona make Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin 'first choice' to replace Juventus-bound Dani Alves at the Nou Camp

• e-mail

Arsenal face a battle to hold on to Hector Bellerin this summer with Barcelona making the right back their top target to replace Dani Alves, according to reports in Spain on Thursday.

News of the Catalans' interest in Bellerin – a former Barcelona academy player – will be a major concern to Arsene Wenger as he helped turn the 21-year-old into one of the best right backs in the Premier League.

Indeed, Bellerin, who was born and grew up in Barcelona before joining their famous La Masia academy at the age of eight in 2003, was named in the PFA Team of the Year this season.

Mundo Deportivo report that Barcelona want to sign Hector Bellerin to replace Dani Alves

Bellerin was voted as the best right back in the Premier League this season, making the PFA Team of the Year

Barcelona-based daily Mundo Deportivo claim that Barca technical director Robert Fernandez made contact with Bellerin a month ago.

Bellerin was on the books of Barcelona for eight years before moving to north London as a 16-year-old and has firmly cemented his place in the starting line-up in the previous two seasons.

The Spain youth international has reportedly maintained a good relationship with his former coaches at Barcelona and could be swayed to return home despite having three years remaining on his contract at Arsenal.

The situation is similar to the transfer saga involving Cesc Fabregas who, having left Barcelona to join Arsenal as a teenager, returned to the Catalan giants when they came calling in 2011.

Bellerin was involved in the recent launch of Arsenal's home kit for the 2016-17 season

Barcelona right back Dani Alves (right) looks almost certain to join Juventus on a three-year contract 

Alves has one year remaining on the two-year deal he signed last summer but looks set to leave Nou Camp

Alves looks almost certain to join Juventus on a three-year contract ‒ with the Brazilian right back bringing to an end a glorious eight-year spell at Barcelona.

The Spanish champions will let the 33-year-old full back leave on a free but will save around £5.3million on what is left of his contract.

Spanish reports claim that there is a clause in Alves' contract that allows him to leave Barcelona for nothing before June 5.

Italian giants Juventus also want Javier Mascherano and have spoken to representatives of the Argentine about a summer move.