Real Betis Balompié faces a midfield puzzle in the final hours of the summer transfer window. The club needs to unlock a departure to make one or two more signings.
The Verdiblancos, sitting fifth in La Liga with six points from two wins, have been active this summer. Fran García, Facundo Bernal, Troy Parrott, and goalkeeper Diego Conde have already arrived. But the sporting planning, led by Manu Fajardo, still has room for a final move, provided space is created in the squad and within the salary limit.
Why must a midfielder leave first?
Manager Manuel Pellegrini currently has seven players competing for the three starting midfield spots. They are Facundo Bernal, Marc Roca, Nelson Deossa, Álvaro Fidalgo, Pablo Fornals, Isco Alarcón, and Giovani Lo Celso. Some have the versatility to play wider, but competition is high for the two pivot positions and the attacking midfield role. The club wants to avoid 'overbooking' in this area.
Pellegrini made this clear recently. "If for someone cheaper to arrive, a more expensive one has to leave...", the Chilean coach stated. This is the working premise: for a defensive midfielder, with priority target Amrabat again in the picture, or local boy Dani Ceballos, who is hoping for a return, to arrive, at least one current player must depart first.
Which Real Betis players could depart?
All eyes are on Colombian Nelson Deossa, who has received proposals this summer. His exit is a real possibility. But he's not the only one. There are loan offers for Uruguayan Gonzalo Petit, though the club does not rule out a permanent sale to recoup their investment. Midfielder Iker Losada has offers on the table and is expected to choose a destination after this afternoon's match.
The most advanced operation, however, involves Pablo García. Both England's Hull City and Greece's Olympiacos have made bids for the player. The Greek club has offered nine million euros for 70% of his transfer rights. This sale would generate capital gains and salary limit savings, vital resources for any incoming business.
What does this mean for the Champions League team?
Securing a departure is the final step in completing a squad puzzle designed for Champions League competition. Betis starts from a strong base, with a defence yet to concede a goal this season and an attack that has scored two. They are just one point behind leaders Alaves.
The schedule gets tough soon, with a key clash against Real Madrid at the Benito Villamarín on 4 September. You can check the full run of games on our fixtures page. To face it with guarantees, the team needs to resolve its midfield situation. The club is also managing several absences, including Aitor Ruibal, Diego Conde, Giovani Lo Celso, and Gonzalo Petit, whose progress is tracked on the injuries page.
The sporting directorate is working against the clock. The success of the final week of the market won't be measured by the names that arrive, but by the ability to create perfect balance in a midfield already loaded with talent. The outcome will define the team's options in a season that has started on the right foot.
