Villarreal turn to Real Sociedad target to be their number nine for next season – report | OneFootball

Villarreal Sporting Director Miguel Angel Tena told the press on Thursday that they were not looking for a replacement for Alexander Sorloth, amid heavy speculation about a move to Atletico Madrid. Contradictory reports have emerged though, which suggest they have already identified a top target.

Prior to Tena’s statements, it had been suggested that the Yellow Submarine were on the verge of a €35m agreement with Atletico, but the agreement is not yet over the line. Matteo Moretto has revealed to Relevo that his words were a method of pressure on Atletico to get the deal done. The Yellow Submarine are also working on his replacement, and are now in conversations with Getafe for Borja Mayoral. The Getafe forward has an agreement with Real Sociedad, as do Getafe, but Umar Sadiq’s refusal to join the Azulones has thus far scuppered any deal.

Both Mayoral and Sorloth are coming off by far their best seasons in Spanish football, although the former’s was halted cruelly in March due to a meniscus issue. The 27-year-old is now fully recovered though, and will be looking to get back to the sort of goalscoring form which had him in contention for the Pichichi, which Sorloth ended up finishing second in.