11 January 2024 , 01:07
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Arsenal are interested in signing Getafe's Borja Mayoral to solve their striker problem.
Mayoral, 26, is enjoying a season to remember, having scored 14 goals in 22 games in all competitions. The Spaniard's form has fired Getafe up to eighth in La Liga, giving the Madrid side hope of qualifying for Europe for just the fourth time in their history.
Arsenal's need for a new striker has become clear in recent weeks. They've picked up just one point from their last three Premier League games - slipping five points behind leaders Liverpool - and were recently knocked out of the FA Cup by Jurgen Klopp's side.
Bukayo Saka is the only Arsenal player to score at least six Premier League goals this season. Mikel Arteta's other No.9 options - Eddie Nketiah (five goals), Kai Havertz (four) and Gabriel Jesus (three) - have all failed to consistently find the net in the top flight.
Arsenal's preference is to sign Brentford striker Ivan Toney, who scored 20 Premier League goals last season and will complete an eight-month gambling ban next week. But the Bees, who sit just four points above the relegation zone, are refusing to sell the 27-year-old.
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Brentford are already without Yoane Wissa, who has travelled to the Ivory Coast to play for the DR Congo at the Africa Cup of Nations, and Bryan Mbeumo thanks to an ankle injury. They can't afford to lose Toney too ahead of a potential relegation battle.
Borja Mayoral has already scored 14 goals this season (Getty Images)Who do you think Arsenal should sign this month? Let us know in the comments below!
That's forced Arsenal to target look elsewhere. According to The Sun, the Gunners have seen a £22million bid for Mayoral rejected by Getafe. The Spanish club are believed to be holding out for £39m, but Arsenal will hope to get him for much cheaper.
Mayoral, who plays alongside Manchester United loanee Mason Greenwood at Getafe, graduated from Real Madrid's academy and played 33 times for the first team, with 24 of those appearances coming during their Champions League-winning campaign in 2017/18.
Mayoral completed loan spells at Wolfsburg, Levante and Roma before joining Getafe - initially on a temporary basis - in January 2022. He scored 15 goals during his first 18 months at Getafe but has found his shooting boots this term to impress the Gunners.
Only Jude Bellingham, who has found the net 13 times in the league for Madrid, has scored more goals than Mayoral in La Liga this season. It's believed Arsenal's London rivals - Fulham, Brentford and Crystal Palace - are also keeping a close eye on Mayoral.