Real Betis are extremely unlikely to be making a move for Manchester United defender Eric Bailly this summer, despite reports in England saying otherwise.
That’s according to Estadio Deportivo, who back up claims elsewhere that the finances involved in any deal means it won’t be happening for the Spanish club.
Bailly has been linked with a move to Betis by the English press over the last week, with his future in doubt as he enters the final year of his deal at Manchester United.
So far, there has been no sign he will be extending his contract, and if that remains the case, and United sign a centre back like many are predicting they will, then a sale could be on the cards.
That has since been rubbished in Spain, where it was stated that the finances would prohibit Betis from any sort of deal.
Estadio Deportivo have now picked up on that and provided the numbers involved to explain why Bailly won’t be arriving from Manchester United.
They explain that the mooted figure of €13m for the transfer would be ‘unfeasible’ for Betis, and even if they were to secure a ‘big sale’ this summer, that money would be used to settle accounts rather than reinvest in the squad.
Then there is the issue of Bailly’s wages: he currently earns €5m per year at Old Trafford and would ‘obviously want to keep’ that figure were he to leave.
Such a salary would be above Betis’ self-imposed cap, which is currently topped out for Nabil Fekir, who earns €3.5m a year.
Thus, being able to keep Bailly on his current wages would be impossible and, coupled with the reported transfer fee, make a move extremely unlikely to happen.
