Ipswich Town have been reported one of the clubs moving for midfielder Nelson Deossa. However, fresh claims from Argentina suggest they are facing serious competition from River Plate.
The Colombian midfielder has become one of the more intriguing names to emerge in the transfer market around Real Betis. As we covered last week, there is interest reported from England, South America and Mexico.
Now, according to transfer journalist Germán García Grova, River Plate have opened negotiations with Betis as they attempt to secure Deossa’s signing after the World Cup.
“River have open negotiations for Nelson Deossa. Work is being done intensely with Betis to be able to count on the Colombian midfielder after the World Cup,” García Grova reported in Argentine outlet El Intransigente.
River pushing for midfielder
River’s interest is not entirely new. Reports in Argentina have repeatedly stated that manager Eduardo Coudet is a big admirer of the midfielder. He wants reinforcements capable of improving his side immediately.
Uriel Iugt, another journalist covering the Argentine market, also stated that River continue to closely monitor Deossa’s situation. They believe he has a realistic chance of leaving Betis during this transfer window.
The 25-year-old joined the Spanish side from Monterrey last summer for €11.5m (£9.8m), but injuries and adaptation issues limited his impact during his first season in La Liga.
There is also another complication emerging. Mexican side Tigres have started exploring the conditions of a potential transfer. They believe Deossa still has plenty to offer in Liga MX after impressing during his time with both Pachuca and Monterrey.
Despite that, Betis are still believed to have confidence in his long-term potential. Previous reports in Spain suggested the club would consider a sale if the right offer arrived. At the same time, they are exploring the possibility of retaining a percentage of the player’s future rights.
Ipswich Town still in the picture
The Argentine developments are particularly interesting. This is because they arrive only days after reports from Colombia suggested Ipswich Town had moved ahead of rival clubs.
The information came from a source that isn’t particularly big or especially reliable, but it was the same account that first reported Ipswich’s interest in Deossa, which was later reported and effectively confirmed by the Spanish outlets we covered
They said Ipswich were the most advanced club in the race. Silva added that Betis were seeking between €9m and €12m (£7.6m-£10.2m) and that discussions were taking place over either a permanent transfer or a loan with an obligation to buy.
At the time, River, Monterrey and Brazilian clubs were described as interested but behind the Premier League side.
The latest reports from Argentina paint a slightly different picture. If negotiations between River and Betis are indeed underway, the race may be far more open than previously suggested.
For Ipswich, that means any optimism generated by last week’s Colombian reports may need to be tempered. The Premier League club remain firmly linked, but River Plate now appear to be making their own push in parallel.
