Fulham leading race for signing but yet to contact club – Need a big offer to convince

Fulham lead the race for Real Betis winger Rodrigo Riquelme but have yet to contact the Spanish club; Betis would demand €20m+ to sell.

Fulham are the frontrunners to sign Real Betis winger Rodrigo Riquelme, but the Premier League side have not yet made formal contact with the Spanish club. The 26-year-old has impressed this season with three goals and one assist in 11 La Liga games, plus one assist in three Champions League appearances.

Riquelme joined Betis from Atlético Madrid in 2025 for €8m and has since recorded 12 goals and three assists in 53 games. Fulham's interest is described as very serious, with scouts regularly attending Betis matches to watch him. The club's focus on the Spanish market intensified after hiring Alvaro Arbeloa last summer, with most of their recent signings coming from Spain.

However, Betis have no intention of selling easily. Manager Manuel Pellegrini considers Riquelme a key part of his plans, and the club would only entertain an offer exceeding €20m—well above the €8m they paid for 50% of his rights. Riquelme himself prefers to stay at Betis for now, making a January move unlikely unless Fulham table a substantial bid.