Real Betis to Pursue Dani Ceballos in January Transfer Window After Summer Bid Falls Short

Real Betis is set to renew its interest in Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos during the upcoming January transfer window. The club has been eyeing a move for Ceballos for several years, and while they made a bid this summer, it fell short of Real Madrid’s valuation.

Ceballos, who has expressed a desire to return to his first club, is seen as a potential solution for Betis, especially with the long-term absence of William Carvalho and Isco’s ongoing injury problems. According to Marca, Betis is determined to make a fresh attempt to secure the midfielder in January.

In addition to targeting Ceballos, Betis aims to bolster their squad by adding a central defender and a right-winger. The departure of Rodri Sanchez to Al-Arabi for €8 million has left a gap that manager Manuel Pellegrini is eager to fill. Brazilian center-back Vitao, who was linked with Betis over the summer, is once again a potential target.

To fund these acquisitions, Betis is exploring the sale of players like Chimy Avila, Assane Diao—who has garnered interest from RB Leipzig—and Juanmi, whose relationship with Pellegrini has been tumultuous.

While Ceballos may not directly replace the attacking firepower that Betis has been lacking, his arrival would certainly elevate the quality of the squad compared to players like Marc Roca, Sergi Altimira, and Johnny Cardoso in deeper roles. However, Ceballos still has significant time left on his Real Madrid contract, with previous transfer demands ranging between €15 million and €20 million—figures that may prove difficult for Betis to meet.