Real Betis majority shareholder Bosch Valero recently confirmed that prized playmaker Beñat Extebarria - allegedly one of Brendan Rodgers's 'favourite' players - could be sold in the transfer window. Liverpool have been linked with a move for Beñat several times over the last few weeks, but it seems like the club may now be priced out of any potential deal.
In an interview last weekend with Sky Sports, Betis manager Pepe Mel revealed that Beñat - rather dubiously dubbed the 'New Xabi Alonso - has an expensive buy-out clause:
"Benat's clause is €20million and he will only leave for €20million.
"To sell him for anything less would be a disaster. The club must defend its position and Benat knows that. To be able to go the market and find a replacement, the only number is €20million. He has one more year left on his contract and he can fulfill that."
Speaking to Reporters recently, Beñat addressed speculation linking him with a move abroad. He said:
"Will I leave in January? All I know is that there is going to be talk of offers in the winter window just as there was last summer. My agents are in charge of everything and I am going to turn off my mobile phone until January 31st."
He could've said 'No, I am staying at Betis', but he didn't, which suggests that a move could be on the cards if the right offer comes in. A couple of weeks ago, Benta gave a similarly non-committal response:
"At the moment I'm only thinking about Betis and the next game. My agents take care of that [transfer talk] and they know what is best for me. I speak to them regularly, but I'm just doing my utmost for the team right now"
Valero confirmed last month that the Spanish star could be on his way out of the club. He said:
“We do not rule out the possibility that Beñat could leave this winter. Contract negotiations are ongoing, but there is no progress or agreement from both sides. Wolfsburg offered more than €10 million for him, but we decided that it was not a good time to sell him".
Betis are currently battling against administration, which could ultimately force the club to cash-in on their prized asset.
Beñat recently led Betis to a 1-0 victory over Real Madrid, scoring the only goal of the game.
Jaimie Kanwar
In an interview last weekend with Sky Sports, Betis manager Pepe Mel revealed that Beñat - rather dubiously dubbed the 'New Xabi Alonso - has an expensive buy-out clause:
"Benat's clause is €20million and he will only leave for €20million.
"To sell him for anything less would be a disaster. The club must defend its position and Benat knows that. To be able to go the market and find a replacement, the only number is €20million. He has one more year left on his contract and he can fulfill that."
Speaking to Reporters recently, Beñat addressed speculation linking him with a move abroad. He said:
"Will I leave in January? All I know is that there is going to be talk of offers in the winter window just as there was last summer. My agents are in charge of everything and I am going to turn off my mobile phone until January 31st."
He could've said 'No, I am staying at Betis', but he didn't, which suggests that a move could be on the cards if the right offer comes in. A couple of weeks ago, Benta gave a similarly non-committal response:
"At the moment I'm only thinking about Betis and the next game. My agents take care of that [transfer talk] and they know what is best for me. I speak to them regularly, but I'm just doing my utmost for the team right now"
Valero confirmed last month that the Spanish star could be on his way out of the club. He said:
“We do not rule out the possibility that Beñat could leave this winter. Contract negotiations are ongoing, but there is no progress or agreement from both sides. Wolfsburg offered more than €10 million for him, but we decided that it was not a good time to sell him".
Betis are currently battling against administration, which could ultimately force the club to cash-in on their prized asset.
Beñat recently led Betis to a 1-0 victory over Real Madrid, scoring the only goal of the game.
Jaimie Kanwar
We should wait until they are closer to administration.
ReplyDeleteis he honestly as good as jamie makes out?
ReplyDeleteGreat player, reckon if something lesser was wafted under their nose & the player wanted out they,d take it, could be some mileage in thid one because as you state jamie, BR is a big fan
ReplyDeleteI do think our current crop of playmakers aren`t up to scratch, but I hate the status "the new" when they are compared to players who are still playing. It should only be used to compared against retired players IMO.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of this player, I don`t think he is good enough for that price.
it would be a big top 4 statement to spend 20m e on this player. he's another level to JA.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to turn off my mobile until the end of January, lol, what a crock of shit, how will you talk to your agent, more bollocks and media hype
ReplyDeleteMost footballers would shrivel up & die if they turned their phones off for ten minutes, lol :)
ReplyDeleteLFC must do seriously to get Benat Extrebarria,very worth join LFC.Work hard and doing all out to get best player.I like to look him wearing LFC jersy.
ReplyDeleteWhat does he offer that our players don't already?
ReplyDeleteLucas Biglia,Yann M'Villa,Kevin Strootman,Mousa Sissoko,Mauricio Isla, and now Benat Extrebarria.I prefer Benat can perform very well with LFC team.He can off many thing for LFC.Creative,briliant and tough player.
ReplyDeleterodgers did say he will sign soe experienced player in this transfer window, didnt he? so where are these players? he havent buy. single one! "If you look at the top end of our pitch, Luis Suárez has been surrounded by up-and-coming young players, Those positions are the positions that make the difference. I'm all for young players, I want to develop young players, but I also know as a manager that there needs to be the right mix.' so where the hell are the experienced players???
ReplyDeletethe ability to pass forward
ReplyDeleteHow is 20 million being priced out? We still have some assets to sell in Carrol, Spearing, Downing and possibly some fringe players like Kelly who seems to be ready to up and leave. Rodgers has also said that 2013 was all about balancing the books but in that same year he's spent 40 million on players. Ergo, we're not in such terrible financial shape. If we really want him and he can make a difference, I don't see how 20 million is too much. It's about 16 million quid.
ReplyDeleteI would still prefer Xabi Alonso back as a playmaker. He is a true fan our club. He will not cost much in terms of transfer fees. He still has a couple of years still left in him. Legend. 20mil for Benat??
ReplyDeleteTeams like Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal and MU are grabbing them. That's where they are.
ReplyDeleteBenat is only 25, xabi is 31 & as much as i,ll never forget some of his highlights iam not sure he,d have a similar impact second time around, time dulls the memory but the guy had a fair few stinkers for us as well & i honestly think this 20 mil figure is just speculative, spanish clubs need the money & a lesser offer may well succeed
ReplyDeleteHe's just been picked in the world XI and is a regular starter for Real Madrid and the World and European Champions. I'm sure he could string a couple of good performances together still. 31 is not 40 people. Stevie G is 32..
ReplyDeleteAlthough Benat is not the same kind of mid as Allen i get the feeling Allen would be sold as both are lightweights and the club really needs to add strength in that area.
ReplyDeleteBenat would be a wonderful signing though.
rodgers is fooling the fans.. saying thats not the right window but ba sneijder pato also was availale among many other great players. he just like to buys players that he likes like sturidge allen borini or poor players like assaidi.. cant even take the best out of nuri sahin
ReplyDeleteWhy???
ReplyDeleteI'd rather buy a more player like Villa or Dzeko and maybe we just might get a 4th place finish and then get the right players if we are in the Champions League.
ReplyDeleteWe need someone that can pass I mean a passing game with penetration also we leak goals I mean 3 against villa & stoke just should not happen
ReplyDeleteI would go with Moussa. As I've said before, gerrard allen shelvey hendo and nuri can all interchange (even though Benet can offer more than the latter four imo). Lucas is there by himself and needs some competition/support especially if he goes down injured
ReplyDeleteReally we need to get the best out of what we have before we spend £12-15mil on another playmaker. Allen seriously needs to up his game. I was hoping Allen may step up his game when Lucas came back, but I see no evidence of it. He still has loads of time to come good, but buying Beñat doesn't seem conducive to that. Henderson has been better on form, though if he ever wants to be a top player, the first thing he has to improve (of several things) is his first touch, which is typically British. Henderson improves the team as well when he plays. Allen, I believe, is the better footballer, but Henderson improves the team.
ReplyDeleteBefore we find someone to rotate in with (I don't include Gerrard as Rodgers will play him whenever fit) Allen, Henderson, Shelvey and Suso (who needs to start playing in the middle more- though I don't think he is fully ready for first team) we need options at left-back, centre-half (Rodgers doesn't seem to care for Coates) and DM (to cover/challenge for Lucas' place, unless we promote Coady). I think in the other positions where we are not strong enough (up front, on the wings (and I'm expecting Ince to come in) and in the playmaking department) we should try and get the most out of what we have and maximise the value of our investments.
Why what u daft or something pretty much Allen is an underweight failure to compliment Benat an athletic player would be nice.
ReplyDeleteFor experience look no further than Terry McDermot for the Liverpool midfield
ReplyDeletehe offers something that only 2 off our current whole team offers *end product* the ability to score and set up goals which a large amount of our current players hav failed to offer
ReplyDeleteI think we all want to be competing for the players you mentioned but lets recap 1 of them plays for what some say are the best team to ever grace this earth and the other have done something that we have failed to do in the past 20 or so years we are no longer the club that every1 wants to play for and we should have cashed in when we won the champions league and signed the big names then but we didn't and the only way we will ever get back to the top is by fighting our way there and being shrewd in the transfer market
ReplyDeletei say to save money we should sell anfield £300mill then hire stanley park for weekends put down jumpers for goalposts then go on a spending spree and sign every1 that has ever been linked with us get a team of around a 100 players to choose from then try make the money back with shirt sales
ReplyDeletequeue the backlash