West Ham United have seen three formal offers rejected by Real Betis for Brazilian centre-back Natan, according to a report from ABC in Spain.
The London club acted in the final days of the January window. They tabled proposals worth around £34m (€40m) in different structures.
However, none of them convinced Betis. The Spanish side decided to keep the defender and back his development during the second half of the season.
Details of the three proposals
The first approach from West Ham included an upfront payment of £2.6m (€3m). It also contained a compulsory purchase clause of £28.1m (€33m). That clause would activate on 1 July 2026. Betis rejected the offer.
West Ham then raised the initial fee to £4.3m (€5m). They proposed a further £26.4m (€31m) payable in July. Betis again said no.
A third and final bid followed with a different structure. West Ham offered £5.1m (€6m) immediately. They added £23.8m (€28m) for next summer and 15% of a future sale. Betis maintained their stance and rejected it.
After repeated refusals from Betis, West Ham moved to the loan signing of Axel Disasi from Chelsea as an alternativa.
Why Betis are holding firm
From Betis’ perspective, Natan remains a key asset. The Brazilian defender is close to turning 25 and continues to show strong progression.
He arrived on loan from Napoli in the summer of 2024. Betis later exercised their option to buy him for £7.7m (€9m) before the end of the 2024-25 season. His market value has since increased significantly.
Betis believe his performances this season can push that value even higher. The club had already rejected offers above £21.3m (€25m) last summer.
Also, Betis only own 90% of Natan’s economic rights. As a result, the club want a higher fee to justify a sale. They also want flexibility to invest more strongly in future markets.
This time, West Ham have been forced to look elsewhere.
