Real Betis are ‘optimistic’ about completing the signing of Claudio Bravo from Manchester City this summer.
That’s according to ABC Sevilla, who first seriously reported the Spanish side’s interest in the veteran goalkeeper yesterday.
According to their report, Manuel Pellegrini’s side had identified the Chilean goalkeeper as a target this summer once his deal with Manchester City ends and had already opened negotiations.
They were confident of getting a deal over the line, and ABC very much present that as the case today.
They report that negotiations with Bravo’s agent are ‘well underway’, but there are a ‘number of issues’ that need to be resolved before a deal can be signed.
One of those is his current obligation to Manchester City. Bravo is Guardiola’s back up goalkeeper and has a contract with them until the end of their season.
That is set to run for a while after they managed to knock Real Madrid out of the Champions League and secure a place in the semi-finals of that competition.
Bravo’s commitment to them is total and he has made it clear he will not ‘close any negotiations’ with a new club until their run is over. Thus, Betis are being forced to wait.
There is also the issue of his contract, with it as yet unknown whether he will sign for the La Liga side for one year or two.
Either way, Betis are confident of getting a deal done, and there is plenty of optimism about Bravo’s potential arrival.
They see him as a player who can upgrade their goalkeeping spot instantly but also add experience and ‘more weight’ to the dressing room via his personality.
The key to anything is happening is Manchester City finishing their campaign though, with Betis sure to be keeping an eye on proceedings over the new few weeks.