La Liga top-four hopefuls Real Betis are reportedly the front-runners in the race to sign Borja Mayoral from Real Madrid this month.
According to a report by Catalan outlet El Nacional, Borja Mayoral is poised to join Real Betis in the ongoing transfer window. The Andalusian club is in pole position to sign the Real Madrid forward, who will cut short his loan stint with AS Roma this month to join the La Liga top-four hopefuls.
Borja Mayoral has been on Real Madrid’s books since joining their youth setup in 2007. But the 24-year-old is yet to establish a foothold in the first-team squad at the Santiago Bernabeu, completing only one full season with Los Blancos since making his senior bow in October 2015.
The Spanish forward is currently on loan at AS Roma, having joined the Serie A club on a two-year deal. Mayoral’s stint with the Giallorossi has been a mixed bag, as he has gone from being a pivotal figure last season for them to a bit-part player this term. The player has garnered only 249 minutes of game time while mustering one goal and one assist in the process.
Mayoral’s loan spell with AS Roma will be cut short this month, with the player keen on getting his career back on track. But the player will not be at Real Madrid for too long, with a move within La Liga expected. The 24-year-old has already been linked with Getafe, but Real Betis are emerging as the leader in the race to snap him up from Real Madrid.
The interest from Real Betis might be surprising at first glance, but it makes sense as Willian Jose is sidelined with an injury. The 30-year-old forward’s long-term future at the Benito Villamarin Stadium is far from certain as he is currently on loan from Real Sociedad.
Willian Jose’s absence through injury has left Manuel Pellegrini with Borja Iglesias as the only natural striker at his disposal. Iglesias’s namesake Borja Mayoral is thus a viable target for Real Betis as they look to bolster their hopes of clinching a top-four finish in La Liga.
Instead of embarking on another loan spell, Mayoral will leave Real Madrid permanently, with the Merengues hoping to recoup €10 million in exchange for his services. It is unclear whether Real Betis will be open to shelling out the sum to land the 24-year-old, but a permanent transfer seems a viable solution for all parties involved.