Newcastle United have reportedly turned their sights towards striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who currently plays for Mainz, as per L’Equipe. The report states that Newcastle United and another Premier League side, Southampton, have placed offers for the 21-year-old, said to be in the region of €20 and €25 million. The report further goes on to state that the Magpies’ bid has been turned down by the Bundesliga side. Mainz reportedly want a figure somewhere between €35 and €40 million for the striker.
The young French forward joined Mainz in June 2018 for €10 million becoming the costliest player in the club’s history when he moved from Lyon. Mateta’s contract with the German club expires in 2022.
The Magpies have been linked with quite a few strikers, from last year’s loan striker Salomón Rondón to Rangers’ Alfredo Moraes, as well as former Manchester City player Edin Dzeko.
Mateta moved from lower division side Châteauroux to Lyon in 2016 but featured in only a few games for the senior side, before he had a loan spell at Le Havre where he scored 20 goals in all competitions.
That fantastic season earned him a move to Mainz where he excelled in his first season in German football, scoring 14 goals for the club as well as providing 2 assists. The 6’4″ striker made 36 appearances for the club in all competitions, of which 30 were starts.
Mateta has featured for the French U-21 side, scoring twice in five appearances.
Should Newcastle United sign him?
Mateta is a talented young player who has hit the ground running in his first season in Bundesliga. A tall and physical presence up front, the 21-year-old models his game on Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and is a good dribbler of the ball, like his idol.
The youngster has good pace and can play on the shoulder of the last man, waiting for through balls to take a chance at goal, while his tall frame allows him to be deadly in the air as well. Quick with his feet, Mateta comes alive inside the penalty box and dispatches shots towards the goal with aplomb.
Newcastle, provided they can successfully complete the much talked about change in ownership, should certainly sign Mateta for the price that Mainz want as he is a supremely talented striker who would be perfect for the Premier League. At 21 years of age, Mateta is a player with a lot of potential and could be one for the present and the future.