Spanish Side In Talks With Stoke Midfielder Over January Signing - Report

La Liga strugglers Real Betis are considering making several signings during this transfer window to avoid relegation and reports in Spain claim that Stoke player Wilson Palacios is their main target.

Stoke signed Palacios in the summer of 2011 from Tottenham but the Honduran player has failed to make a real impact during his two and a half seasons at the club, due to several injuries.

Palacios has started just three Premier League games this season while last year he appeared just four times.

Spanish newspaper Diario AS reports that Betis want to take advantage of the player's lack of opportunities in the Premier League to secure his services to replace long-term injury victim Xavi Torres.

Palacios, 29, is a regular starter for Honduras and he will be open to a move to La Liga to increase his playing time and be ready for the summer World Cup in Brazil. Furthermore he speaks fluent Spanish so could adapt easily to life in Betis.

According to AS, Palacios is leading a shortlist of players that also includes Argentinian Ignacio Pichi Mercier, but Betis prefer Palacios as Pichi is already 33 year old and has no previous experience in Europe.

Betis are currently bottom of the table in La Liga and they are desperately trying to sign new players to avoid dropping to the Second Division. After sacking manager Pepe Mel, new boss Juan Carlos Garrido has asked the club for at least five new players.