- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
West Ham United scouted Real Betis left-back Juan Miranda this weekend with Premier League rivals Brentford, Crystal Palace and Wolves also keen on the former Barcelona ace.
HITC understands that the Spain international, who scored in a Man of the Match performance during Friday night’s 2-1 win over Celta Vigo, is on the radar of a number of clubs ahead of the summer transfer window.
There is interest from a Brentford side who will look to replace Sergio Reguilon should the Tottenham Hotspur loanee return to North London. Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers are also admirers of Juan Miranda. Palace are playing a wing-back system these days under Oliver Glasner. And while Tyrick Mitchell did provide an assist for Ebere Eze’s winner at Anfield, the buccaneering Miranda appears better suited to such a role.
Wolves, meanwhile, may also face a challenge hanging onto the much-admired Rayan Ait-Nouri with a number of clubs keen on the ever-improving former Angers ace.
Real Betis ace Juan Miranda is a target for West Ham United
West Ham United, HITC understands, have been watching Miranda since the turn of the year too. The Hammers had scouts in attendance as the La Masia graduate turned in that stand-out display during Real Betis’ hard-fought win over relegation-threatened Celta Vigo, and likely see Miranda as a long-term replacement for the 34-year-old Aaron Cresswell.
Emerson Palmieri has enjoyed an impressive campaign but Miranda – quick, agile and very attack-minded – would potentially give David Moyes’ side a different dimension on the flank.
Miranda spent seven seasons in Barcelona’s fabled academy from 2014 to 2021. The 24-year-old, who found the net in his only appearance for the Spanish national team and also spent time in Germany with Schalke, will be a free-agent this summer.
Miranda was close to joining Serie A giants AC Milan in January. He remains on the market, however, and could prove to be one of the best bargain additions of the summer window given his potential and skillset. There is also interest from Borussia Dortmund and Real Sociedad.
We understand Fulham looked at Miranda a year ago. It remains to be seen if The Cottagers return to the race, with Antonee Robinson and Calvin Bassey both options for the left-back spot under Marco Silva these days.
Spain international hailed by Lionel Messi
“They have been training with us, and you see they are different players,” one Lionel Messi said of Miranda and his fellow youngster Riqui Puig back in 2018.
“The club did well in bringing them up to train with us. They will grow more and it’s good the club are using people from the youth academy.”
Jose Miguel Lopez Catalan, Real Betis’s vice president admitted back in December that Miranda was attracting plenty of interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs, confirming the admiration from Milan and Dortmund amongst others.
“So far there have been proposals for renewal,” Catalan said. “But for some reason, sporting or economic, we have not been able to reach that agreement. He is a player who obviously attracts other clubs.
“Yes, he talks about Milan, Dortmund or other Spanish teams. Anything can happen. We could find an agreement and renew for many years, or a huge offer could come to him with a salary double or triple what he has here.
“The relationship with his family and with his agent is very good. It is not a tense relationship, but the problem is not just the signing bonus, which can go to the player or the agent, it is the salary.”