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(Credit: Imago)
Ben Palmer
Sat 2 August 2025 13:00, UK
Liverpool may revisit a move for Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta after their bid for Alexander Isak was rejected.
Isak has been a target for Liverpool for much of the summer as Arne Slot looks for a Darwin Nunez replacement.
The Uruguayan forward, for all his talent, has never been able to consistently deliver during his time in the Premier League.
Alexander Isak’s stats in all competitions last season.
(Credit: Imago)
And despite winning England’s top-flight at a canter, Nunez scored just five goals in 30 matches in the league last season.
In contrast, Isak was the highest scoring non-Liverpool player in the Premier League last season, netting 23 times in 34 appearances, but after having a bid of £110million [BBC Sport] rejected, the Reds would be well advised to reignite their interest in Mateta.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson told Football Insider exclusively on 18 July that Liverpool have considered making a move for Mateta this summer.
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The French striker has scored 30 Premier League goals for Eagles in the previous two seasons, despite suffering a horrific head injury against Millwall last term.
Mateta had been expected to sign a new contract with Crystal Palace this window, but over a month after it was revealed that negotiations had begun, no new deal has been agreed.
Jean-Philippe Mateta has two years remaining on his Crystal Palace contract.
(Credit Imago)
Whilst the former Mainz man is a less glamorous option than Isak, he comes with Premier League pedigree and would be significantly less expensive than his Swedish counterpart.
Mateta thrives as a lone striker and his relationship with Eberechi Eze on the field highlights his ability to get the best out of his teammates.
This is something that Slot would likely be very interested in, given that he has a new crop of attacking talent that has very little experience of playing together.
Mateta would be a surprising option to lead the Liverpool attack, but potentially a brilliant one, and there is a persuasive argument for him being that man in the upcoming season.
Liverpool’s interest in signing a new striker begs the question: what role does Slot envision for his new star Hugo Ekitike?
The Frenchman played almost exclusively as a number nine last term for Eintracht Frankfurt, scoring 15 times in the Bundesliga.
However, part of Ekitike’s appeal is his versatility and talent as both a goal-scorer and a creator.
The former PSG man assisted eight times for Frankfurt last campaign, and is just as comfortable as a number 10, or a wide man.
Luis Diaz’s move to Bayern Munich has left a gap at left wing, and Liverpool’s desire to sign a new striker may indicate they plan to use Ekitike out wide, at least for the start of his career at Anfield.
This would then allow Florian Wirtz to play in his natural position behind a striker, and the German is another player who would undoubtedly benefit from having a talented and selfless striker like Mateta in front of him.
It could be the perfect title-winning combination for the Merseyside mega spenders.
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