Betis close on Bougherra

Spaniards in pole position to land stopper

By Graeme Bailey   Last updated: 7th July 2008

madjid bougherra

Bougherra: Betis target

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Real Betis are closing on a deal for Charlton defender Madjid Bougherra, skysports.com understands.

The 25-year-old central defender is being chased by a number of clubs with the likes of Rangers, Newcastle, Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and Wigan also keeping close tabs on the situation.

However, Betis are the only side to have made an offer thus far, with their initial £1.6million bid rejected by the Addicks earlier this summer.

Now the Seville-based side have come back for further talks and they are understood to be close to agreeing a deal which would meet Charlton's £2.5million asking price.

Bougherra has been at The Valley for 18 months and is a popular figure with The Valley faithful, but manager Alan Pardew seems willing to let the Algerian leave for the right price.