Betis admit Benat could leave in January

Real Betis have confirmed reports that star midfielder Benat Etxebarria could leave the club in the January transfer window.

The highly rated midfielder is followed by a host of Europe’s top clubs and he was on the verge of joining Wolfsburg in the summer transfer window, but Spanish club ultimately decided to reject a €10 million offer for their key player.

However, seeing that negotiations over Benat’s contract extension are not progressing as expected, Real Betis chief Jose Antonio Bosch Valero admits that the club may have no choice but to cash in on the playmaker in January.

“We do not rule out the possibility that Benat leaves in the winter,” Valero told TV programme Onda Deporiva Sevilla.

“Negotiations for renewal are fluid, but so far there has been no progress before the positions are different.”

Benat Etxebarria has two years left on his deal at Estadio Benito Villamarin, but with clubs like Athletic Bilbao, Wolfsburg and Liverpool circling around the Spain international, he may leave much sooner.

The 25-year-old joined Real Betis on a free transfer from Athletic Bilbao in the summer of 2010 and has since made 78 La Liga appearances for the club.