£10 million defender Aissa Mandi is having cold feet about a potential contract renewal at Real Betis, with Estadio Deportivo suggesting that the Newcastle United and Liverpool target could be heading for the exit.
Betis have more than a few reasons to rue the ongoing global health crisis. An underachieving side containing the enigmatic talents of Nabil Fekir, Loren Moron and Sergio Canales produced their finest performance of the campaign before the footballing world was put on hold, beating Real Madrid at a bouncing Estadio Benito Villamarin.
Any hopes they had of maintaining that momentum were quickly dashed. And now, according to reports from Andalusia, a period of reflection has one of Betis’s star players considering his future at a club he joined from Reims four years ago.
Estadio Deportivo point out that Mandi, who has admirers at Newcastle and Liverpool, was on the verge of signing a new, long-term deal a few months ago with his current contract due to expire in the summer of 2021.
Now, however, things seem to have changed. Mandi is now under the impression that the time is right to consider a fresh start, with the 28-year-old Algeria international at the peak of his powers.
What’s more, Real Betis may be forced to accept a cut-price fee of around £10 million for one of La Liga’s finest defenders, given that Mandi is due to become a free agent in 12 months.
The 6ft centre-back is one of a whole host of defenders linked with a Liverpool side who look set to lose Dejan Lovren sooner rather than later. Newcastle, meanwhile, will be flush with cash if their long-awaited Saudi takeover goes through. But that does not mean the Magpies won’t be scouring the market for bargain signings like Mandi.
Financial Fair Play restrictions suggest the likes of Edinson Cavani and Arturo Vidal at St James’ Park may be a pipe dream for the time being.
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