Despite Spending Over $600M in 4 Years, Mikel Arteta & Co. Offers $28M To Lure Spanish Star to Arsenal: Reports

In the last transfer window, Arsenal signed Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Jurrien Timber to bolster their squad. Then, their spending had surpassed $600 million since Mikel Arteta took over as manager in 2019. While Arteta went bullish on midfielders at that time, he is now trying to bolster Arsenal’s misfiring forward fleet. Brentford thwarted the Gunners’ attempts to land Ivan Toney with a staggering $101 million asking price. Hence, the Spanish boss is now putting his bets on La Liga, where he could work out a cheaper deal.

Gabriel Jesus is the only striker Mikel Arteta has recruited over the years. But he struggles to find the net in most matches, with just three goals this season. Apparently, Arsenal is reportedly trying to land the Spanish League’s second top-goalscorer!

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal makes an offer to Spain’s Getafe to tackle their misfiring woes

Arsenal has presented a $28 million bid for Getafe’s star striker Borja Mayoral. Mayoral has been on Mikel Arteta’s radar ever since he started to shine after joining Getafe. The 26-year-old completed a loan move from Real Madrid and joined his side Getafe in 2023. In Getafe, he scored 12 goals so far this season, which makes him second only to Madrid’s Jude Bellingham with 13 goals. Furthermore, the Spaniard is forming a perfect strike partnership with ex-Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood.

Since all these factors make Mayoral a worthy prospect, Brentford had also mulled signing him. Besides, rumors have it that Fulham also pursued the Spaniard. However, Arteta and co. were the first to formally present an offer. Nevertheless, Getafe has reportedly knocked back their offer, asking around $49 million for their leading goalscorer. Anyhow, if a negotiation doesn’t work, Arsenal might give in to these desperate times. That has historically been the case, considering Mikel Arteta’s signings themselves have surpassed the $600 million mark.

How Gunners’ signings under Arteta passed the $600m mark

Since the last ten years, Arsenal has never shied from splurging heavily on the transfer market. The signings of Mesut Özil, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, and Nicolas Pepe, among others, are a testimony to that. Anyhow, the splurging only went north when Mikel Arteta took over. The 41-year-old boss has recruited 29 players since he moved to North London. Of this, only four players have either joined in a free transfer or on loan. The club has shown its deep pockets with their other signings.

READ MORE: Declan Rice is Making $132 Million Arsenal Move ‘Look Like a Bargain,’ Says Alan Shearer

Declan Rice moved to Arsenal in the last window on a record $132 million deal and became the PL’s most expensive signing to date. To acquire Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz, the Gunners had spent $50m and $64m, respectively. It means the club had spent $264 million in the last transfer window itself. Therefore, it is unsurprising to see Arteta’s spending get past the $600 million mark. Now, we should wait and see how far the Gunners will go in ending their goal-scoring woes. Do you think it is a fine signing, or is it panic mode? 

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