West Ham, Southampton, and Ipswich Town are awaiting the player’s approval for a late signing.

English clubs competing for Deossa

West Ham United, Southampton and Ipswich Town are among the clubs showing interest in Real Betis midfielder Nelson Deossa as the summer transfer window approaches its conclusion.

The Colombian international has attracted attention from several English sides, with clubs continuing to assess whether a late move for the 26-year-old could be possible.

West Ham and Ipswich were already monitoring Deossa earlier this month, while Southampton have since entered the race and added another potential destination to the player’s list of options.

The growing interest comes despite Deossa not currently being particularly enthusiastic about leaving Real Betis.

For the English clubs involved, that could prove to be the biggest obstacle in trying to complete a deal before the transfer window closes.

West Ham and Ipswich had already been watching

Interest from England in Deossa became apparent earlier this month when several clubs sent representatives to watch the midfielder during a pre-season fixture against Arsenal.

West Ham and Ipswich Town were among those clubs present to assess the Colombian.

Southampton were not initially involved in that particular scouting mission, but they have since joined the competition for his signature.

The Saints’ involvement means Deossa now has three English clubs considering a potential move, with each side potentially offering him a different sporting opportunity.

West Ham can offer Premier League football, while Southampton and Ipswich are competing in the Championship.

That difference could become an important factor if Deossa eventually decides that a move to England is the right step for his career.

However, financial terms and the player’s own ambitions are also likely to influence his final decision.

Deossa struggled for a regular role

Deossa’s situation at Real Betis has become complicated because he failed to establish himself as a regular starter during his first season at the Andalusian club.

The midfielder featured for 1,491 minutes across 33 appearances last season.

Of those minutes, 735 came during 20 La Liga matches.

Although he was involved regularly enough to gain experience in Spanish football, he did not secure a prominent position within Manuel Pellegrini’s plans.

The manager even used Deossa as a striker during pre-season, largely because of a shortage of options in the attacking area.

However, Pellegrini continues to view the Colombian primarily as a midfielder.

The problem for Deossa is that competition in midfield has left him behind several other players in the pecking order.

That situation appears to have contributed to uncertainty over his future.

Deossa open to England under the right conditions

Earlier this month, reports suggested that Deossa could be willing to consider a move to England if the right proposal arrives.

The Colombian is understood to be open to an English transfer provided the offer is attractive from both a financial and sporting perspective.

That means interested clubs will need to convince him that joining them would represent a worthwhile career move.

Simply securing an agreement with Real Betis may not be enough.

The player himself will need to be persuaded before negotiations can move forward.

That is particularly relevant because Real Betis are reportedly keen to find a solution to his situation.

Real Betis want to reduce their wage bill

According to reports from Diario de Sevilla, Real Betis are looking to move Deossa on this summer.

The club reportedly wants to reduce its wage bill and considers the midfielder a player who can be sacrificed as part of that process.

Deossa did feature during Betis’ recent 1-0 La Liga victory over Real Sociedad, coming off the bench for the final 10 minutes.

Despite that appearance, reports indicate that the club does not see him as part of its long-term plans.

Betis therefore appear willing to consider offers from interested clubs.

The situation would seemingly be straightforward if Deossa was also eager to leave.

However, that is currently not the case.

Several clubs are interested

Deossa is certainly not short of potential destinations.

A number of clubs are reportedly prepared to negotiate for the midfielder, including West Ham, Southampton, Ipswich Town, Olympiacos, Vasco da Gama and Club América.

Ipswich have already made enquiries about his availability, while the other interested clubs are assessing whether they can make progress with the transfer.

The sheer number of potential suitors demonstrates that there is genuine interest in the Colombian.

Nevertheless, all of those clubs face the same problem.

They need Deossa to agree to the move before they can take the next steps with Real Betis.

Clubs waiting for Deossa’s approval

The latest reports suggest that the interested clubs are effectively waiting for the player to give the green light before negotiations can progress.

Several teams are described as being willing to pursue a deal, but Deossa has yet to provide the approval needed to move discussions forward.

At present, the midfielder is not keen on leaving Real Betis.

That stance means West Ham, Southampton, Ipswich and the other interested clubs can only wait and hope that his position changes.

The situation could still develop before the transfer deadline, particularly if Deossa becomes convinced that his opportunities at Betis will remain limited.

If he continues to sit behind other midfielders in Pellegrini’s plans, a move elsewhere could eventually become more appealing.

West Ham face competition

For West Ham, the competition for Deossa could make a potential late deal more difficult.

The Hammers were among the clubs that originally sent scouts to assess him, suggesting that their interest is genuine.

However, Southampton’s entry into the race and Ipswich’s existing enquiries mean West Ham cannot assume they will be able to secure the player if he eventually decides to leave.

The Premier League advantage could work in West Ham’s favour, particularly if Deossa prioritises playing at the highest possible level.

However, Southampton and Ipswich may be able to offer different guarantees regarding playing opportunities.

That could prove significant for a midfielder who has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter at Betis.

Decision could determine transfer

For now, the biggest question surrounding Deossa’s future is not which club wants him, but whether he is prepared to leave Spain.

Real Betis reportedly want to offload him, while several clubs are ready to explore a deal.

The player, however, has not yet been convinced.

West Ham, Southampton and Ipswich therefore remain in a waiting game.

If Deossa changes his mind and agrees to an English move, negotiations could accelerate quickly with several interested clubs ready to make their case.

Until then, the Colombian remains a Real Betis player despite the growing interest surrounding him.

With the transfer deadline approaching, the next decision ultimately rests with Deossa.

For the English clubs chasing him, they can only hope that the 26-year-old changes his stance and gives them the opportunity to begin serious negotiations with Real Betis.