Arsenal are threatening to stifle Mason Greenwood’s loan spell at Getafe by targeting attacking partner Borja Mayoral in the January transfer window, according to reports. Mikel Arteta is hunting for a new striker to boost his side’s lack of killer instinct in the second half of the season.
Arsenal’s need for a reliable goalscorer has become clear in recent weeks as Arteta has watched an abundance of chances go to waste.
The Gunners have won just one of their last seven games in all competitions, losing ground in the Premier League title race and exiting the FA Cup third round.
Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli’s output has dropped, while Reiss Nelson and Leandro Trossard have also struggled to make an impact.
Gabriel Jesus is misfiring up front, as is Eddie Nketiah, sparking striker links en masse this month and ahead of the summer transfer window.
Brentford frontman Ivan Toney has been at the forefront of that speculation as he prepares to return after an eight-month suspension for betting breaches.
But the struggling Bees have slapped a £100million asking price on Toney’s head this winter, likely delaying his departure until the end of the season.
Arteta has reportedly identified a cheaper alternative, though, in Greenwood’s Getafe team-mate Mayoral.
According to The Sun, Getafe have rejected an initial £22m bid for the 26-year-old striker, holding out for closer to £39m for their star man.
Mayoral has starred alongside Greenwood for the La Liga outfit this term, scoring 14 goals in 22 appearances in all competitions.
Only Jude Bellingham’s tally of 13 league goals betters Mayoral’s 12 in Spain, and he has combined with Greenwood on three occasions.
The duo have helped the Madrid side to eighth in La Liga, just six points behind the European places, and Arsenal are said to have been interested in his services since November.
Mayoral graduated from Real Madrid’s academy and played 33 senior games for Los Blancos before joining Getafe on a five-year contract in the summer of 2022.
He had previously spent loan stints at Wolfsburg, Levante, AS Roma and Getafe before making his Geta Azulones stay permanent.
It remains to be seen whether Arsenal will make an improved approach for the Spain U21 international as the Emirates Stadium giants gear up for the Premier League title run-in and the Champions League knockout stages.
But Mayoral’s exit would come as a significant blow for Greenwood, who has rediscovered his lofty potential during his short time in Spain so far.
