Roma forward Borja Mayoral has agreed a move to La Liga outfit Getafe despite holding talks regarding a potential move to the Premier League with Crystal Palace, as reported by AS.
As Juventus and Roma went toe-to-toe on Sunday night, exchanging jabs during the most exciting Serie A game of the season, Mayoral was once again restricted to a backseat role.
The former Spain U21 international came off the bench with just three minutes to go in Turin as the Giallorossi chased a last-gasp equaliser.
And that’s the story of Mayoral’s season.
The silky striker, who joined Roma on a two-year loan deal from Real Madrid in the summer of 2020, has started just one of a potential 21 league games since Jose Mourinho replaced Paulo Fonseca in the Stadio Olimpico dugout.
Why are Crystal Palace not signing Borja Mayoral?
A January departure, then, looks inevitable.
Reports in December claimed that Crystal Palace were leading the chase, entering talks over a deal that would set cost £13 million.
But, three weeks on, Mayoral appears to be packing his bags ahead of a return to the Spanish capital instead.
According to AS, Getafe, Real Madrid’s near neighbours, have agreed a short-term loan deal until the end of this season.
If the La Fabrica graduate can rediscover the form of his previous La Liga spell – he scored eight times on loan at Levante in 2019/20 – then a relegation-threatened Getafe side could climb away from the drop zone at a rate of knots.
Why Crystal Palace did not press ahead with their pursuit of Mayoral remains to be seen.
Perhaps it has something to do with the re-emergence of Jean-Philippe Mateta. Then again, the £14 million Frenchman is still expected to leave Selhurst Park this month.
St Etienne’s manager confirmed that negotiations to sign Mateta were underway last week.
Then again, maybe Palace would prefer a somewhat safer option, a proven Premier League operator a la Eddie Nketiah.
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