Arsenal has been linked with a fresh interest in Real Betis midfielder Nabil Fekir.
The Gunners have been long-term admirers of the Frenchman and they wanted to sign him when he was at Lyon.
That move never materialized, but they continue to monitor the midfielder in preparation for a possible move.
Once on the verge of a move to Liverpool that never transpired, the 29-year-old has been with Real Betis since 2019, signing from his boyhood club Lyon in a deal worth around £25 million. And it’s safe to say he has endured a fruitful spell at the Estadio Benito Villamarin thus far.
Fekir has scored 25 times in 128 appearances for Betis, adding 25 assists in the process. That amounts to a 0.39-goal contribution each game. He helped Los Verdiblancos qualify for the Europa League by finishing sixth in the 2020/21 season, and better that with a fifth-place finish the following season. He was also on the team that won the Copa del Rey with a penalty shootout triumph over Valencia last season.
Nabil Fekir has continued to do well in Spain, but this could be his last season at Betis as clubs circle him.
A report on Fichajes.net reveals Arsenal still wants to add him to their squad when a new chance arrives.
The midfielder, Nabil Fekir is also interested in a move to the Premier League, but West Ham will compete with the Gunners for his signature.
He has managed to impress this season as well, despite a slow start due to niggling injuries, scoring three goals in ten games across all competitions. He even netted in Betis’ 3-0 win over HJK Helsinki in the midweek as the club advanced to the Europa League knockout rounds.
He was rewarded with a new deal back in January that ties him to the Andalusian club until the summer of 2026. But that hasn’t deterred rumours about a potential switch to the Premier League, with Arsenal, West Ham United, and Newcastle all vying for his services.
The Magpies are reported to be ahead of the queue, and a fee of about €45 million has been quoted as sufficient to clinch a deal to bring Fekir to St James’ Park. The Magpies are looking to add further quality and depth this January as Eddie Howe looks to consolidate the club in the upper echelons of the Premier League after an excellent start to the season that saw them gatecrash the top four.
