Leeds United and Everton are all set to battle a European giant in their pursuit of Real Betis centre-back Natan.

Natan’s future has become a very interesting talking point as his consistent performances for Real Betis have put him on the radar of multiple top clubs. According to a report from Fichajes, Leeds United and Everton are set to be involved in a three-way battle to sign the Brazilian centre-back.

While things didn’t go according to plan for Natan at Napoli, he has revived himself since joining Real Betis in the summer of 2024. He had an exceptional debut campaign as he was involved in 52 games and was one of their standout performers.

On the back of those performances, Betis made his loan move permanent last summer. The 24-year-old has carried that form into the new season, and his consistent performances at the back haven’t gone unnoticed.

While his contract at Betis runs until the summer of 2030, there are clubs that are ready to prise him away as early as the winter transfer window. Leeds United, Everton, and Juventus are all desperately looking for a new centre-back to reinforce their backline in January and have their eyes set on Natan.

His strong physical presence, composure at the back, and his ability to anticipate play are major reasons why clubs across Europe would love to have the Brazilian centre-back on their roster.

A three-way battle for Natan

Leeds, Everton and Juventus have all been monitoring him closely ahead of the winter transfer window. The Toffees want to strengthen their backline as they aim for a top-half finish, while Leeds need more quality at the back to help them survive the drop.

Meanwhile, the Old Lady have an injury crisis at the back, and signing a centre-back in January is a top priority for them. The Italian club are gearing up to make an offer, and they might have to put forward an initial offer worth €40 million to force Betis to even consider his departure mid-season.

Can Everton and Leeds beat Juventus?

The Serie A outfit will face stiff competition from Everton and Leeds, who have the funds to spend and can offer him a more prominent role in their project. The Yorkshire-based outfit have already made initial contacts to learn more about a potential transfer.

As far as the Toffees are concerned, they are looking for someone who can provide instant stability and can be a part of their project in the long run. While a move to the Premier League will certainly appeal to him, Juventus certainly have a much bigger project to offer. As a result, it will be interesting to see where he ends up playing his football in 2026.