Leeds United are continuing to monitor Real Betis centre-back Natan and could help the Spanish side solve two problems with a move for him.
ABC Sevilla report that Leeds remain keen on the 25-year-old centre back, who Betis would consider selling for a top price this summer.
Leeds United ‘closely monitoring’
The newspaper explains that while Natan is a key player at Betis, there is an acceptance that he is also one of their most important assets in this window.
The centre-back is being courted by many clubs given his two impressive seasons at Heliópolis. The fact he is also a left-footed centre-back with ‘great energy and excellent in open play’ also make him a player worth looking at for many.
Reports have recently linked him to Barcelona, but they are not the only suitors. Betis have already rejected significant offers in the past, particularly from West Ham. They offered €35m in January, via a loan and purchase agreement.
The Hammers are one of the sides who have been ‘closely monitoring’ the player alongside Roma and Leeds United.
While Betis don’t want to sell, they accept that the defender is their most saleable asset at this moment in time.
Despite qualifying for the Champions League, they see the Brazilian as one of the options to ‘generate a necessary profit’ before June 30th. One of the reasons West Ham’s bid was rejected was because the money would have counted for next season, not this season, on their finances.
Betis want €45m
Natan represents a major profit as he only cost €10m two years ago. Transfermarkt currently value him at €25m, the highest he’s ever been. Betis will only welcome offers above €45m.
Selling him would also solve another issue for the club, their lack of Non-EU spaces. The Spanish side have three in the squad and Natan takes up one of them.
That’s limiting what they can do on the transfer market, particularly ahead of their entry into the Champions League next season. Freeing up a slot would be an added benefit; alongside the major profit he represents.
Whether Leeds want to pay that much – it would be a record transfer after all – is up for debate. But the Brazilian centre-back is an option they’ve looked at, and Betis are open to the sale for more than one reason.
