Real Betis are holding out for £35million as Chelsea step up interest in highly-rated winger Jesus Rodriguez.
Mail Sport reported earlier this year that an increasing number of elite European clubs have taken notice of the 19-year-old’s performances in what has been his break-out season in La Liga.
Lightning quick, the Spanish U19 international, has become a crowd favourite with his work ethic and willingness to take on opposition defences.
Coach Manuel Pellegrini has utilised him as a left winger who cuts in onto his right foot while he has also figured on the opposite side, replacing Antony who is on loan from Manchester United.
Chelsea have already bought Geovany Quenda from Sporting Lisbon but he will remain on loan in Portugal next season.Â
However, that has not stopped the Stamford Bridge side looking to add more young talent as they look to bolster their attack.
It could be bad news for Jadon Sancho with Chelsea looking to sign a new winger this summer
After his breakout season, Real Betis want at least £35m for their lightning-quick winger
Jadon Sancho looks likely to return to Manchester United initially in the summer and they are exploring options that can bolster their attack.
Rodriguez could even be bought and loaned back out again at first but his stature and athleticism make him an ideal prospect for the Premier League.
He won the European U19 Championship with Spain last summer and only made his first team debut for Betis in October but has made a strong impression in his 22 appearances since.
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe singled out Antony and Sancho as two of six Red Devils stars who are ‘not good enough and overpaid’ last month.
Rasmus Hojlund, Lisandro Martinez, Andre Onana and Casemiro, all of whom are still at the club unlike Antony and Sancho, were the other four players named by the Ineos owner as he laid bare the club’s overspending on players in recent years.
‘This summer, we will “buy” Antony, we’ll “buy” Sancho, we’ll “buy” Casemiro, we’ll “buy” Martinez, we’ll “buy” Hojlund, we’ll “buy” Onana, and they’re all about £17m each,’ Ratcliffe said in March.
‘If we buy nobody we’re buying those players. It’s not a light switch (that can be turned off). These are all things from the past, whether we like it or not, we’ve inherited those things and have to sort that out.
‘For Sancho, who now plays for Chelsea and we pay half his wages, we’re paying £17m to buy him in the summer.
Antony has relished his opportunity away from Old Trafford, impressing at Real Betis on loan
Sir Jim Ratcliffe singled out Sancho and Antony as two of six ‘overpaid’ players on his books
‘Some are not good enough and some probably are overpaid, but for us to mould the squad that we are fully responsible for, and accountable for, will take time.Â
‘It takes time for us to move away from the past into a new place in the future. We’ve got this period of transformation where we move from the past to the future.
‘There are some great players in the squad as we know, the captain is a fabulous footballer. We definitely need Bruno (Fernandes), he’s a fantastic footballer.’
