Real Betis boss responds when asked if he’s signing Leicester’s Ayoze Perez

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Real Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini has played down reports suggesting £30 million Leicester City forward Ayoze Perez is set to swap the Premier League for La Liga during the January transfer window, speaking to Marca. 

With the Foxes losing five of their last six games in all competitions – and with relegation now feeling like a very real possibility – the uncertainty surrounding so many members of Brendan Rodgers’ squad is a distraction the Leicester boss really doesn’t need.

Caglar Soyuncu is reportedly set to join Atletico Madrid; his contract expiring in the summer. Daniel Amartey, Youri Tielemans, Nampalys Mendy, Jonny Evans, Ryan Bertrand and the aforementioned Perez are also entering the final six months of their deals. 

And Marca believe that Perez, a £30 million signing from Newcastle United back in 2019, could join Soyuncu in Spain; Real Betis reportedly entering talks.  

But as Pellegrini is keen to point out, rumours are sometimes just that. Rumours. 

Real Betis reportedly want Leicester City’s Ayoze Perez

“With all the speculation that appears in the press, we would have to name Ayoze and ten or twelve others (when discussing) those who are leaving and those who are arriving,” Pellegrini quips.

“We have a squad at this moment. That is the one we are focused on. For now, we have this squad.

“It could not be said that the (market) is closed,” the former Man City coach adds, via El Desmarque. “Because another player could leave, and we would have to replace them. But in general terms, the club is not in the market looking for players.” 

According to Marca, even if Betis were keen on Perez, they would first have to make room in their roster and their budget to accommodate the Leicester benchwarmer.

The now-29-year-old Perez has started just three Premier League games all season. He was linked with Everton and Crystal Palace over the summer. Both clubs could potentially renew their interest given the lack of funds apparently available to Frank Lampard and Patrick Vieira.