Liverpool manager Arne Slot.placeholder image
Liverpool manager Arne Slot. | Getty Images
Liverpool are in the market for a new striker and could take their business to Crystal Palace.
The Eagles had qualified for the Europa League thanks to a historic FA Cup triumph last season but a lack of foresight from ownership saw the club fall foul of UEFA ownership rules. Crystal Palace will still feature in Europe next term, but it will be in the lower Conference League.
While that tournament should give the club chance to progress further than in the Europa League, it’s a tough pill to swallow for Crystal Palace, who have been on an impressive rise under Oliver Glasner.
Liverpool open talks with Jean-Philippe Mateta
The summer could yet go from bad to worse too with the transfer window still open. With many more fixtures to deal with next season, Crystal Palace must look to add strength in depth to their squad. However, it appears as if they could be weakened.
The Reds, who could see Darwin Nunez leave Anfield this summer, are in the market for another striker. The report claims that Liverpool have added Mateta’s name to a shortlist alongside Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Ademola Lookman.
Mateta representatives meet with Liverpool in Paris
The first contact is reported to have been made with Mateta’s agent, who met Liverpool representatives in Paris. It’s believed that a move for Mateta would be considerably more affordable than other targets given that he is 28 years old and has just two years left on his Crystal Palace contract.
Losing Mateta would make the recent Crystal Palace nightmare even worse. The Frenchman scored 17 goals in all competitions last season and was a key cog in the Glasner machine.
The striker had been linked with Manchester United towards the back end of the 2024/25 campaign but, luckily for Crystal Palace, those reports had lost pace in recent weeks with the Red Devils turning their attention to other targets.
Crystal Palace have already recruited Walter Benitez to provide competition for Dean Henderson, the former PSV Eindhoven shot-stopper arriving with European experience. Borna Sosa has also arrived at left-back in a shrewd move by the club.
However, should the Eagles lose the spine of Eze, Guehi, Munoz and Mateta, they will all need to be replaced and further additions on top to keep up with the busy European schedule. Key weeks of transfer activity are ahead.
In other news, Andrea Berta and Arsenal will let reported Liverpool £40m hijack happen - opinion.
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