Real Betis coach Pepe Mel has admitted that he is unlikely to sign Real Madrid midfielder Esteban Granero in January.

Granero was expected to leave Madrid in the transfer window, but Mel has stated that a deal now looks unlikely with the 24-year-old very much involved in the first-team picture following an ankle injury to Sami Khedira.

"Granero wanted to come to Betis. I spoke with him and he was delighted with the idea, but Khedira's injury has changed everything," Mel told Goal.com.

"He is playing at Madrid right now. There is nothing more than that. I put the president in contact with his agent, but I am not involved in economic matters."

The former Getafe player has also been tracked by Malaga and Liverpool.