West Ham United midfielder Pablo Fornals is the ‘express wish’ of Real Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini this summer as he looks for replacements for Sergio Canales.
That’s according to Estadio Deportivo, who say the Spaniard is the ‘preferred’ option at this moment in time thanks to being in the last year of his contract with West Ham.
Several reports over the last week or so have indicated that Pellegrini is keen on a reunion with Fornals, who he worked with when he was in charge at the London Stadium.
That was followed by a claim today that Betis CEO Ramón Alarcón and sporting director Ramón Planes were in England discussing the midfielder with West Ham this week, taking advantage of a pre-season trip to the UK to meet clubs, intermediaries and agents.
Estadio now follow that up and explain that Fornals, alongside Giovani Lo Celso, have been identified as two ideal replacements for Canales this summer.
However, it is the West Ham man who is the ‘preferred’ candidate at this moment in time as he is not only an ‘express wish’ from Pellegrini, but his contract is set to expire next summer, meaning he could be available on the cheap.
Whether that proves to be the case, with the situation very much dependent on the Hammers, remains to be seen but it appears Fornals is at the top of Betis’ wish list, nonetheless.
