Real Betis has been pursuing Dani Ceballos for years, and it seemed they might finally secure his signature this summer.
However, their bid fell short of Real Madrid’s valuation. Ceballos was reportedly eager to return to his first club, prompting Betis to plan another attempt.
Los Verdiblancos will make another move for Ceballos in January to address the absence of William Carvalho for the remainder of the season, especially with Isco also facing injury problems.
While Nabil Fekir has been replaced to some extent by Giovani Lo Celso, the team is still in need of reinforcements.
In addition to Ceballos, Betis is also looking to bring in a central defender and a right-winger during the winter transfer window. After Rodri Sánchez’s departure to Al-Arabi for €8 million following the transfer deadline, Manuel Pellegrini is keen to find a replacement.
Brazilian center-back Vitao, who was heavily linked with Betis over the summer, remains a potential target.
The club plans to finance these acquisitions by considering the sale of players like Chimy Ávila, who joined just a year ago, Assane Diao, linked with moves to RB Leipzig and clubs in England, or Juanmi, who has had a tumultuous relationship with Pellegrini.
This season, Betis has struggled with firepower, and while Ceballos may not be a direct replacement, he would certainly provide an upgrade over Marc Roca, Sergi Altimira, and Johnny Cardoso in deeper roles.
However, Ceballos still has time left on his Real Madrid contract, and previous valuations have ranged from €15 million to €20 million, a fee that may be out of Betis’ reach.