Former Arsenal full back Bacary Sagna has praised Inter Milan right-back Achraf Hakimi.

With the Gunners likely to lose Hector Bellerin this summer, who has been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, they are targeting a replacement.

There have been reports linking the Gunners with Hakimi, and Sagna can understand why the club would be eager to sign the 22-year-old Moroccan.

Speaking to Goal.com, Sagna said: "I am sure they are assessing the situation quite well and they already have someone in mind [if Bellerin leaves].

"Hakimi is never tired, he's always going forward. He's so fast.

"I was surprised when I saw him playing for Madrid because for me he was not that good. You could see the potential, but I never expected him to do as well as he is doing now."

And Sagna admitted he wouldn't be surprised if Bellerin left, adding: "Hector has been there for years.

"He started playing not long after I left, so he has been in the team for like six years.

"And a bit like I felt, he probably feels that he wants to challenge himself because he has been there for a long time.

"It's nothing to do with the club, nothing to do with winning cups or whatever. At some point if you want to progress, in my mind you need to go somewhere and challenge yourself and start from zero again. This is how I felt.

"Arsenal was my club and is still my beloved club, but after seven years I had the feeling that because I was part of the house, even when I didn't deserve to play, I would have played.

"It's quite tricky as a player. Hector's still young, he still has five good years to play at the top level and he can do it. So, if he left now, I wouldn't be surprised."