Spanish side Real Betis are leading the way to secure the signing of Chelsea midfielder Mario Pasalic this summer, according to Estadio Deportivo.
The Spanish sports news website claim that the La Liga club are ahead of other proposed suitors such as Leeds and Celtic as the 22-year-old desires a move back to Spain, with the player said to describe Betis as a “very good club with a significant reputation and a tradition in the Spanish league.”
Both the Championship side and the Scottish champions were said to hold strong interest in Pasalic by ABC de Sevilla, but the player has told his agent to ensure that talks with the Spanish side are prioritised, and they state that discussions are reaching an advanced stage.
The central midfielder spent a season on loan at Elche from Chelsea back in 2014, before going on to appear for French side AS Monaco and Italian giants AC Milan on temporary deals over the next two seasons.
Despite joining the Blues back in the summer of 2014, he is yet to make an appearance for them, and it seems as though he may not get the chance, with his contract set to expire at the end of the upcoming season.
Last season saw Pasalic turn out in the famous black and red stripes of AC Milan, making 25 appearances, scoring five goals and providing a solitary assist during his time at the San Siro.