Real Betis’ ambitious plan to try and sign Pablo Fornals from West Ham United could inadvertently give Everton their shot at signing Luiz Henrique.
That’s according to ABC Sevilla, who cover the move for the Spanish midfielder today and how it could have a knock-on effect.
The newspaper report that Fornals is the focus of Betis’ interest for the January transfer window and, if a move can’t be done in the next week or so, the summer as well.
West Ham have made the midfielder available on loan with an option to buy included, after extending his contract to 2025 to avoid losing him on a free transfer in the summer.
Betis are interested in him and a reunion with manager Manuel Pellegrini, who thinks he would fit in well at the club, but any move is dependent on sales first.
Rodri, Borja Iglesias and Luiz Henrique are the three Betis players currently in the exit spotlight and if they can get one out, they will be able to move for the West Ham man.
That could give Everton their shot at Henrique, who has been linked with a move to Goodison Park for weeks and is someone Kevin Thelwell and his team are looking at.
The big issue has been that Betis want a full sale and Everton can only offer a loan and that remains the case. The Spanish side would need to sell this month to be able to definitively move for Fornals and a loan exit would mean a move for the West Ham midfielder would not be so clear.
The idea to sign him is there, though, and so is the need to get rid of someone first, potentially giving Everton their shot at Henrique before the end of the window.
