Betis Faces Challenges in Strengthening Squad Ahead of Transfer Window

Generally, all templates have room for improvement. The complications that arise in the market, coupled with the salary cap imposed by LaLiga on each club, complicate the efforts of sporting directors to complete a flawless squad. In the case of Real Betis, these issues have been identified for some time, primarily affecting two specific positions.

Since the summer, when the potential departure of Chimy Ávila fell through and neither the club nor the player was convinced by any of the proposals for Bakambu, it became clear that the team might face a deficit in the forward position. Confidence in Cucho Hernández remains absolute. His performance, approaching a year since his arrival at the club, consistently affirms that the investment in his signing was a wise choice. However, the doubts surrounding both the Congolese and the Argentine players have become evident in the first half of the season.

Cédric’s two goals across La Liga and the Europa League, along with Luis Ezequiel’s lack of goals in his limited appearances across all three competitions, represent an inadequate return for a club aspiring to compete for European positions domestically and advance in knockout tournaments. To exacerbate the situation, Cucho suffered a muscle injury last Saturday in Oviedo, which is expected to keep him out of action for three to four weeks.

Another concern, which was anticipated when the summer transfer window closed, lies in the left-back position. The performance of Ricardo Rodríguez since his arrival at Betis has not been wholly convincing, raising questions that the return of Junior Firpo has done little to resolve. The frequent injuries of the Dominican player—three in half a season—have forced Pellegrini to employ creative solutions in numerous matches.

The coach appeared to solve the conundrum by shifting Valentín Gómez to the left flank. However, as a center-back converted to a full-back, his solid defensive performance does not entirely complement the tactical requirements for width and attacking support. Additionally, this shift limits rotation options in the center of defense. These issues are compounded by several minor complications caused by injuries and the Africa Cup of Nations, but they should gradually resolve as players return from injury or international duties.

The silver lining for Betis is the clear identification of the main deficiencies within their squad. The sporting management has been diligently exploring alternatives to boost both the forward line and the left-back position in preparation for the second half of the season. The challenge lies in generating salary space to sign ‘reinforcements’ rather than just ‘names,’ as demanded by their coach. Fajardo has three weeks until February 2nd to navigate the market and refine a squad that, in any case, should be capable of returning to European competition.