Aston Villa have reportedly tabled an offer worth €25 million to sign Nabil Fekir from La Liga side Real Betis in an ambitious move this summer.
According to Fútbol Total, Aston Villa have submitted an offer to Real Betis for 29-year-old French attacking midfielder Nabil Fekir. However, the figure offered by the Villains is deemed too low by the Andalusian giants, who have swiftly rejected the proposal.
Since arriving from Lyon for around €20 million in July 2019, Fekir has scored 22 goals and registered 23 assists in 118 games for Betis across all competitions. The 29-year-old has grown into a vital player for Los Verdiblancos and has been key to their rise in prominence in La Liga in recent years.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner enjoyed a productive season with Manuel Pellegrini’s side last term, scoring ten goals and registering as many assists in 47 appearances across the board. But Real Betis are currently scrambling around for one way or another to raise capital to balance their books as they look to register all of their players before the end of the summer transfer window.
Nabil Fekir’s name appears the likeliest to be sold for big money, even though the player prefers to stay at the club. He is attracting interest from several Premier League clubs, namely Newcastle United and Manchester City. Aston Villa are also among clubs who want to get their hands on the player.
Fekir still has four years remaining on his current deal but could be open to a move to England, having previously missed out on a dream switch to Liverpool when he was back at Lyon. Aston Villa have presented Betis with an offer worth €25 million to secure the 29-year-old’s signature. But the Spanish outfit considered it disrespectful and rejected the proposal straight away.
The economic outlook does not bode well for Real Betis, but they are reluctant to let go of their best players at cheap prices or in a fire sale. The Andalusian outfit discerns the Villa offer is not enough for a player of his calibre, a 2018 FIFA World Cup winner and one of the most talented players in La Liga. Fekir also has performed well over the years for Los Beticos, often emerging as the creator-in-chief.
At the moment, Steven Gerrard is scouring the market to add some flair and creativity to his attack so that he can get the best out of Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins with better service. So it is logical that Aston Villa are making an attempt to snap Fekir this summer. He has proven himself to be an excellent playmaker and has a lot of experience at the highest level of football. It remains to be seen if the Villans will return with an improved bid.
