Real Sociedad are negotiating with Real Madrid on the permanent transfer of forward Borja Mayoral, according to Diario AS.
The 22-year-old has been on loan with Levante but he netted just three goals across 29 appearances in La Liga this campaign.
The Valencia-based club are keen on a deal but it had appeared certain he would join La Real – and whilst Madrid have lowered their asking price from €35m to €15m, this is still considered expensive by the Basque club.
It is said that they are unwilling to pay more than €10m for the player and even then this would be in installments, following the signings of Portu and Alexander Isak.
Local media outlet Noticias de Gipuzkoa first reported in the interest in the former Spain Under-21 striker, with a move now to the Basque Country seemingly closer to fruition.
“I do not even know that,” Borja told Cadena Ser last month, when asked about where he would be playing his football next season.
“Right now, I am focused on the (Under-21) European Championships and we will see after that. I bet that I will leave Real Madrid. Real Sociedad is on top of the list.”
Mayoral has previously spent a season on loan at German club Wolfsburg but has scored a total of just eight league goals across the past three campaigns.
He is one of 36 first-team squad players at Madrid, who are now focused on selling at least eight players.