Hector Bellerin 'to miss start of next season'

Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin will reportedly miss at least a few weeks of the new Premier League season as he continues to recover from his serious knee injury.

The 24-year-old suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament during his side's 2-0 win over Chelsea on January 19 and underwent immediate surgery in Spain, ruling him out for the remainder of the campaign.

The Spaniard had been in line to return at some point during pre-season ahead of the Gunners' league opener at Newcastle United on August 11, but according to the Evening Standard, he is now "expected to miss several weeks of the new campaign at the very least".

The news poses a problem for head coach Unai Emery, who has been considering new defensive options over the summer but is likely to be priced out of moves for the likes of Thomas Meunier due to a severely limited transfer budget.

Bellerin, whose spell on the sidelines could see him miss games against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in August, remains under contract at the Emirates until 2023.