Hoffenheim have approached Real Betis over signing Assane Diao.
The German club are considering how to structure a potential deal including a loan with an option to buy.
However, Real Betis sources have told The Athletic that Diao has indicated to them that he is not fully convinced about joining Hoffenheim, although a move in the future has not been ruled out.
Diao, 18, is highly thought of at Betis and won the Under-19 European Championship with Spain earlier this summer.
Diao extended his Betis contract last year, with his new deal now running until June 2027.
The Spain youth international made 28 first-team appearances for Betis last season, scoring four goals. He has come through the youth system at Betis and had previously been a regular for their B team, which competes in the third tier of Spanish football.
This season, Diao has featured once, as a substitute in Betis’ 2-0 Conference League play-off first-leg win against Ukrainian side Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih last Thursday. He has been an unused substitute in their two La Liga games so far.
Hoffenheim won their opening Bundesliga game 3-2 against Holstein Kiel at the weekend and face Eintracht Frankfurt in their next match. They will compete in the Europa League this season after a seventh-place finish last term.
Additional reporting: Seb Stafford-Bloor
(Cristina Quicler/AFP via Getty Images)
