Mayoral ahead of Jovic in Real Madrid pecking order
The club are working to find a loan move for Serbian striker Luka Jovic, while Zidane plans to include Borja Mayoral in the squad for Real Sociedad.
Borja Mayoral, 23, has once again earned Zinedine Zidane's trust. The striker from Madrid has been one of the most outstanding players in pre-season and his performances have not gone unnoticed by Zidane. The Frenchman gave him the opportunity to become a first team squad member in 2017-18.
Mayoral is currently ahead of Luka Jovic in the pecking order for first-team strikers at the club. So much so that the club has begun to move to seek a loan deal for the Serbian, a scenario that was not considered a few months ago, when he was second-choice striker behind Karim Benzema. At Madrid they are concerned about the lack of form he displayed in his first season and also about his off the field issues. At the same time, they are relatively confident that at 22 years old he has time on his side.
Considering loan move for Jovic
That is why they have decided to seek a loan for him to regain some much-needed confidence. A club where he can play 40 games and rediscover his goalscoring form, the type of form that encouraged Madrid to splash out 60 million euros on. With Benzema in the form of his life, it is difficult for Jovic to earn a starting place under Zidane, in a system where the former Lyon striker plays the lone striker role.
The tricky thing now is finding a destination for him. AC Milan have been one of the interested clubs over recent months and relations are strong with Los Blancos, after closing the Brahim Diaz loan move.
Zidane down numbers in attack
Zidane plans to include Mayoral, who spent the last two season on loan at Levante, in the squad to play against Real Sociedad on Sunday. Attacking options are at a premium right now for Madrid, with Hazard, Asensio, Lucas Vázquez, Isco, Jovic and Mariano injured or doubts, this gives Mayoral a chance to stake a claim in Zidane's squad for the upcoming season.
Faced with this new scenario, Mayoral remains calm. He has been continually linked with moves to Valencia, Levante, Lazio, Fiorentina and Marseille. With his contract ending in 2021, a decision will be taken soon. His priority, as he has always stated, is to be in Madrid. Now they must decide in the Spanish capital whether to sell him, with perhaps a buyback clause included or extend his contract to remain at the Santiago Bernabéu for several more years.
