Junior Firpo - Heading to Barcelona or EPL?

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Real Betis resigned to exit of wing-back Junior Firpo

Real Betis are resigned to losing wing-back Junior Firpo this summer amid interest from Barcelona and the Premier League, say reports in Spain.

ABC de Sevilla report that the Dominican-born player, who has a €50m release clause at the club, could leave with €40m but with a 25% future sell-on clause included.

Junior only made his first-team debut at Los Verdiblancos in early 2018 but has now established himself as a regular starter, making 43 appearances.

Newcastle and Crystal Palace are both said to have scouted the player while reports from Diario Sport claim that the Blaugrana are also interested.

The 22-year-old endured a disrupted second half of the campaign due to a number of muscular injuries including thigh and hamstring pulls.

However, the report in Sport believes the Blaugrana would not have to part with significant cash as they would add midfielder Rafinha Alcantara and left-back Juan Miranda to the deal.

Brazilian midfielder Rafinha was reportedly close to joining Betis last summer but a move never materialised, while Barca B left-back Miranda would theoretically be a direct replacement for Junior.

Denis Suarez is also said to be a potential player involved in the operation, but he is more likely to join Valencia and Coach Marcelino, with whom he has a strong relationship.

The report highlights the strong relations between Betis and Barcelona, mainly due to transfer chiefs Lorenzo Serra Ferrer and Pep Segura.

Betis full-back Emerson is currently on loan from the Catalan giants until 2021 at least, with both clubs helping the Brazilian move to Spanish football in January.