Betis eyeing January striker but exits must come first, says Pellegrini
Real Betis have prioritised signing a new forward in the winter transfer window, but club policy dictates players must leave before any arrivals can be sanctioned.
Manuel Pellegrini has made it crystal clear that Betis need to shift some deadwood before they can bring in the striker they’re desperately after this January window.
Exit strategy first
With the winter transfer market about to swing open its doors, Betis have their ducks in a row regarding their strategy. They’re gagging for a proper number 9, but the brass upstairs insist some players need to do one before anyone new rocks up at the Benito Villamarín.
Pellegrini didn’t mince his words after their final match before the break against Getafe: “For someone to arrive, someone else must leave, we need to see who goes without weakening ourselves.”
Who’s on the chopping block?
The Chimy Ávila experiment hasn’t exactly gone according to plan, has it? The Argentine forward nearly legged it to Mexico last August and has now been offered to Getafe plus several clubs in Mexico and Argentina. Betis are clearly keen to get him off the wage bill.
Cedric Bakambu is another name in the shop window. The Congolese forward finally broke his scoring drought yesterday, netting against Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations. With his contract winding down in June, the writing’s on the wall for the veteran striker.
Strategic priorities
Shifting these two would create the financial breathing room needed to bring in the centre-forward that sporting director Manuel Pellegrini is after.
While the club might respond to any surprising offers for other squad members, they’re not actively looking to strengthen other positions. Even at left-back, where Ricardo Rodríguez’s contract expires in June, Betis are planning to wait until summer before addressing that area.
The recent Isco injury setback, requiring surgery on Monday, has thrown a spanner in the works. His extended absence makes it unlikely Betis will entertain offers for Giovani Lo Celso, who otherwise might have been another potential departure.