Real Betis can’t afford the £50,000 a week required to sign Napoli defender Nikola Maksimovic with Manuel Pellegrini at risk of losing out to his old employers West Ham United, according to AreaNapoli.
A few weeks ago, reports suggesting David Moyes wanted a new central defender may have raised an eyebrow or two.
But following a series of error-riddled displays – 11 goals conceded in their past five games – the transfer plan suddenly doesn’t seem so strange, especially with Fabian Balbuena expected to leave.
Like West Ham’s Paraguay international, 29-year-old Maksimovic will be a free agent in July.
The Hammers failed with a £14 million bid for the tough-tackling Serb in September last year.
But, after Napoli failed to tie him down to a new contract, Champions League-chasing West Ham could sign that very same player for nothing (talkSPORT).
AreaNapoli reports West Ham are battling London neighbours Crystal Palace for Maksimovic’s signature.
Real Betis, meanwhile, appear to have bowed out of the race before the starting gun has even sounded.
The La Liga outfit, coached by former Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini, simply can’t afford to meet Maksimovic’s £50,000-a-week demands.
Inter Milan are still in contention, of course, with Antonio Conte no stranger to bringing in experienced, low-cost additions – see Ashley Young, Aleksandar Kolarov and Arturo Vidal.
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