West Ham United are reportedly competing with Southampton to sign Real Betis midfielder Nelson Deossa, although the Colombian’s reluctance to leave Spain has complicated any potential transfer.
The two Championship clubs meet in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening, but their rivalry now appears to extend into the transfer market.
Diario de Sevilla reports that West Ham and Southampton are among several clubs interested in Deossa, with Ipswich Town also making enquiries.
Betis want to move the midfielder on to reduce their wage bill, but the 26-year-old has so far resisted leaving Manuel Pellegrini’s squad.
Nelson Deossa transfer faces major West Ham obstacle
Deossa made 33 appearances across all competitions during his first season with Betis but managed only 735 minutes across 20 La Liga outings.
Sport Witness reports that Olympiacos, Vasco da Gama, Club América and River Plate also hold an interest.
However, none of the interested clubs can advance significantly without the player agreeing to leave.
West Ham’s interest would fit with their wider recruitment plans. Nuno Espírito Santo wants four further signings across key positions, including a midfielder.
That requirement could become more pressing if Edson Álvarez completes a move after Olympiacos submitted an €8m offer.
Tomáš Souček is also unavailable through injury, leaving Nuno with fewer midfield options ahead of the Southampton fixture.
West Ham were previously linked with sending scouts to watch Deossa against Arsenal, with Betis reportedly hoping to recover approximately €11m, around £9.5m, from any sale.
No West Ham offer or agreement has been confirmed, and Deossa’s current position remains the biggest obstacle.
For Nuno, the situation creates an unusual scenario: Southampton are opponents on the pitch and potential competition for the same midfield target.
