Liverpool headed into the summer transfer window expecting to make significant changes to their front line, with Darwin Nuñez and Federico Chiesa seemingly certain to depart and speculation heavy that they club would target a top striker to improve Arne Slot’s Premier League title winning side.
Persistent rumours surrounding Luis Diaz hinted at further possible—though seemingly far less certain—changes. Then, of course, came the tragic death of Diogo Jota. A reasonable expectation following that might
have been that departures would be less likely, but that hasn’t stopped the rumour mongers.
If a player like Nuñez or Diaz were to depart, sourcing a high level replacement would seem even more important now—and if one isn’t available, it could well turn out reckless for the club still to pursue a sale. Whether Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta represents high level we’ll leave up to the reader.
Regardless, the 28-year-old French striker, who represented France as an overage player at the 2024 Olympics but has otherwise not represented his country since the U21 level, has now been linked. More than that, he has been linked by at least what seem to be plausibly reliable sources.
Mateta has spent three years at the London club, and after some first year struggles he scored 19 goals in 39 games with a goal involvement every 103 minutes, an exceptional return, in 2023-24. Last year he had 17 goals in 46 appearances with a goal involvement coming every 157 minutes.
One outstanding season, one pretty good season, and an age profile will raise eyebrows in a summer when everyone seems to have collectively agreed the club can’t or shouldn’t give Luis Diaz, who is the same age as Mateta, a new deal and would be better off cashing in because of his age.
It would also be fair to ask if he would make for a clear upgrade even on a consistently inconsistent Darwin Nuñez, who remains a mystery wrapped in an enigma packed into the body of one of the most physically gifted strikers of his generation despite so far having failed to put it all together.
Perhaps all that really seems certain now is nobody on the outside probably really knows what the club are thinking on the recruitment front. There could be a world where Mateta makes sense. Or a meeting could have been contingency planning. Or, of course, this could all be down to agent talk.
More from liverpooloffside.sbnation.com:
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- Barcelona Reportedly Preparing £132M Coutinho Bid
- Catalan Press Claim Philippe Coutinho has Chosen Barcelona Shirt Number
- Rumour Mongering: Reds In For Roma Keeper Alisson
- Barcelona Claim They’ve Shown Liverpool “Respect” in Coutinho Chase
- Adam Lallana Is Ready To Compete
- Emre Can Expected to Remain at Liverpool Until Summer
