Newcastle United fans in the Transfer Tavern will be desperate for Rafa Benitez to sign a striker this summer to improve on the quality of their current crop.
If Mike Ashley and Benitez want to land one of their reported targets though they will have to act fast. French newspaper L’Equipe have reported that Bundesliga side Mainz have submitted a bid of £8.8M for 20-year-old Lyon striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.
The French youngster was loaned out to Ligue 2 side Le Havre for the duration of last season and was joint second in the league’s race for the golden boot, scoring 17 goals in 35 league games.
Mateta is 6ft3 but has the classic ‘good feet for a big man’ and his style has drawn (albeit premature) comparisons with Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet. He clearly has the pace and power to ensure he wouldn’t be bullied by Premier League centre-backs.
The Magpies will be looking to bring in another striker after Joselu and Dwight Gayle managed just 10 goals between them in all competitions last season.
Mateta may well be willing to leave Lyon, who will be playing Champions League football next season after finishing third, to find first-team football. If Newcastle act fast then Mateta could be a perfect signing for the future and the present.
