According to recent reports, Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi is a summer transfer target for Real Betis.
The reports by Spanish publication Superdeporte claim that the defender, who is ‘not essential to Pep Guardiola’, is free to return to La Liga this summer, with Real Betis said to be interested in the 32-year-old.
The report goes on to cite Eurosport journalist Fermin de la Calle, who stated that the Spanish side believe Otamendi is one of their ‘firm options’ to reinforce the ‘disastrous’ Betis defence, which conceded 60 goals in the league this season, a record which only bettered 19th placed Mallorca’s.
Another reason as to why the defender could be tempted to Betis is that his former manager at Manchester City, Manuel Pellegrini, is now in charge of Los Verdiblancos.
TIF Thoughts…
Considering the fact that Guardiola would like to bring in two new central defenders this summer, it would indeed appear that the writing is on the wall for Otamendi, who has fallen out of favour this season, making just 18 league starts this term.
As such, one would assume that Guardiola will be more than happy to shift the 32-year-old, and, while there is no asking price stated in the reports, it is hard to imagine City wanting drastically more than Otamendi’s current market value of £13.05 million.
Would you be happy to sell Otamendi for his market value of £13.05m this summer?
Yes
No
It looks to be a rather unceremonious end for a player who won two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and four League Cups in his time at City. However, if Guardiola’s side are to once again challenge for the Premier League title next season, it is obvious that improvements will have to be made over the summer to in order to catch up with runaway winners Liverpool.