Real Betis are closing in on a deal for Chelsea midfielder Mario Pasalic, according to the Estadio Deportivo.
The Seville based newspaper are reporting Betis are confident of signing the player on loan despite the Croatian international only having a year left on his contract at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues were hoping to get €10m (£9m) for the 22 year old but no club has offered anything close to the asking price. Instead, it seems Pasalic will be offered a contract extension so the player doesn’t leave on a free transfer at the end of his loan spell in Spain.
The midfielder was heavily linked with Lazio but the Serie A side’s interest has cooled after signing Lucas Leiva from Liverpool and Davide Di Gennaro from Cagliari over the past week.
Pasalic has never played for Chelsea despite joining the club three years ago from Hajduk Split. He looks set for his fourth loan spell in four years after previous moves to Elche, Monaco and AC Milan.
