Latest news with #JeanPhilippeMateta
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
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Man Utd urged to take advantage of PL frontman's precarious contract situation, he'd ‘tick a lot of boxes'
Manchester United have been urged to try their luck in pursuit of Crystal Palace frontman Jean-Philippe Mateta, who has yet to commit his long-term future to the club despite being in contract talks for several months. It's no secret that INEOS chiefs are now desperately scouring the market for a suitable striker addition in time for 2025/2026 getting underway in less than a month's time. United have already missed out on a whopping three targets in the window thus far: Liam Delap when he signed for Chelsea, Hugo Ekitike before he made the move to Liverpool, and Viktor Gyokeres when he officially sealed his desired switch to Arsenal over the weekend. As a result, forwards that are not only available but also valued at affordable prices are few and far between this summer. Why United should test Palace's resolve for Jean-Philippe Mateta Mateta has flourished under Oliver Glasner. (Photo by) That's why Manchester Evening News' George Smith has implored the Red Devils board to go all-out for Mateta in hopes of taking advantage of his uncertain future at Selhurst Park. The 28-year-old has enjoyed spells of particularly eye-catching over the last two seasons; he notched 16 goals and six assists in 35 Premier League appearances in 2023/2024, followed by 14 goals and two assists last time out. Outside the top flight, he played a key role in Palace reigning triumphant in the FA Cup final to secure their first-ever major trophy. 'Mateta ticks plenty of boxes. He is a defender's worst nightmare, both with the ball at his feet and in the air,' says Smith. Mateta hopes to oversee an even more prolific 25/26 term for one key reason To make matters more intriguing for United, Mateta is said to be dreaming of a World Cup call-up next summer, which would see him potentially represent France for the first-ever time at senior level outside of last year's Olympics. Whilst he could indeed be rewarded for a stellar campaign with the Eagles, representing a club like United, the 20-time champions of England, throughout their 2025/2026 rebuild may aid his case considerably more – the likes of Leny Yoro, who's awaiting his debut for France, will also be aiming to impress Didier Deschamps. More Stories / Latest News Man Utd urged to take advantage of PL frontman's precarious contract situation, he'd 'tick a lot of boxes' Jul 28 2025, 6:30 Major boost for Man Utd as Sesko follows in the footsteps of Cunha & Mbeumo Jul 27 2025, 16:18 Breaking: Al-Nassr submit offer for Man Utd star as Ronaldo prepares for double reunion Jul 27 2025, 14:41
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Liverpool's Striker Puzzle: Nunez Future, Mateta Option, Isak Priority
Darwin's Dilemma, Mateta's Moment and the Isak Impasse: Where Next for Liverpool's No.9 Role? Liverpool's search for a new frontman continues to dominate the conversation across fan channels and podcasts, and on the latest edition of Big Decisions on Anfield Index, Jack McIndoe and Lewis Aspinall dug deep into the forward puzzle facing Arne Slot's Premier League-winning side. With Darwin Nunez's future in limbo and links to Jean-Philippe Mateta and Alexander Isak intensifying, the Reds have tough calls to make. Nunez on the Brink Darwin Nunez's Liverpool journey has been defined by moments of brilliance and infuriating inconsistency. As Aspinall noted bluntly, 'We need to be realistic, man.' Despite some key goals — including 'the back heels against Madrid and Brentford' — Lewis believes the body of work across three years is enough for Liverpool to consider parting ways. 'I would've took Napoli's last bid in all honesty,' he admitted, referencing a reported £43–50 million offer. 'I think we're pricing him out the market in the desperate hope that clubs are going to panic buy because they can't get their hands on an Ékitike or an Osimhen.' Jack acknowledged the bittersweet sentiment shared by many Reds, who admire Nunez's passion but recognise the system under Arne Slot may not suit his erratic profile. 'He has a skill set that benefits Liverpool,' Lewis said, 'but that skill set is shown so few and far between in Slot's system.' As for whether Darwin will still be wearing red come September, Lewis was clear: 'I think he's gone. I don't see him being a Liverpool player next season beyond the window.' Mateta as the New Origi? One of the surprise links this summer is Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta. While not a headline-grabber like Isak or Ékitike, the Frenchman has his admirers, including Lewis. 'You don't sign a Jean-Philippe Mateta to be your starter week in week out,' he clarified, 'you sign Mateta as a capable backup.' Comparing him to cult heroes like Divock Origi and Peter Crouch, he praised Mateta's physicality and aerial threat: 'He's a physical powerhouse who will shoot from any angle. He's someone who can add a different dimension to Liverpool's play.' Jack pressed on whether Arne Slot could improve Mateta. 'No,' came Lewis' honest reply, 'and I don't think that's a bad thing.' Instead, Mateta's value lies in his simplicity: 'You just need him to be in the right position… sometimes I'm fine with the Peter Crouch on the bench.' At £30 million and with 30 goals across the last two seasons, Lewis summed up Mateta as 'a bargain' for the right role. Isak the Ideal, But Will It Happen? Of course, the headline act in this conversation is Alexander Isak. With Newcastle reportedly close to signing Hugo Ékitike, many are wondering if it's a precursor to Isak's sale — and if Liverpool are the club preparing a big move. 'I think that's us,' Lewis said confidently, referring to reports of an £85 million bid for Ékitike, which he believes indicates Liverpool's pursuit of Isak. 'If we don't get Isak, I think we get Ékitike.' When asked directly if he believed Isak would arrive at Anfield this summer, Lewis didn't hesitate: 'Yes. I think there is every possibility.' He even went further, calling it potentially 'the best summer window we have had in the Premier League era, bar none.' Newcastle's financial situation may force their hand, and Isak is one of few assets who could fetch the kind of fee required to balance the books. 'He represents such a high fee that you will recoup that you're paying off the past,' Lewis explained. 'If they sell him, that's 150 million quid.' Liverpool's Striking Conundrum From potential losses to potential bargains, and marquee ambitions in Isak, Liverpool's striker situation is a microcosm of modern football's brutal decision-making. As Lewis put it, 'You've got to break a few eggs to make an omelette.' Whether Nunez stays, Mateta arrives or Isak becomes the club's most expensive signing, Arne Slot's forward line is set for change. The only question now is: which big decision will shape Liverpool's new attack?
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jean-Philippe Mateta price revealed as star interested in a move
Manchester United have learned the asking price of one of their top striker targets. Frustrating search The Red Devils have spent all summer searching for a striker to take over starting responsibilities from Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee. United were originally linked to Liam Delap but he opted for a move to Chelsea. Viktor Gyokeres has agreed to go to Arsenal and Victor Osimhen seems like he will be on his way to Galatasaray. United target Jean-Philippe Mateta Another player that Ruben Amorim's side have been linked with is Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. It was thought that the forward may want to stay at Palace to help them in Europe but this may have changed after they were demoted to the Conference League. AC Milan interest It has already been reported that Serie A sides Juventus and AC Milan carry an interest in the player but according to French outlet L'Equipe, Milan have made their first steps to sign him. The paper states that 'in search of a striker, AC Milan is interested in Crystal Palace's Frenchman, Jean-Philippe Mateta, who is under contract in England until 2027.' It is suggested that his involvement with the French national team in the Olympics has given him the hunger to be involved in the World Cup squad next summer. The forward reportedly 'has formed the conviction that this could possibly involve a move away from Crystal Palace this summer, as he aspires to join a more prestigious club.' Consequently, Mateta is 'reportedly attracted by the prospect of working under Massimiliano Allegri' and the Italian giants have 'taken concrete steps' to sign the player. Valuation problematic for Milan, could United swoop? The French paper state that there is a fly in the ointment for Milan and that is that 'the English club's asking price—over €30 million has reportedly put off the Lombardy club, whose budget is limited.' United were prepared to spend a similar amount on Delap, so if Mateta is truly available for this price, it could be an attractive and affordable proposition for the Red Devils. He was on fire last season for Palace, scoring 17 goals in all competitions as he helped his side win the FA Cup. Feature image Michael Regan via Getty Images Follow us on Bluesky: @
New York Times
17-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Who is Borna Sosa and why have Crystal Palace signed him?
It didn't take Borna Sosa long to demonstrate why Crystal Palace have bought him. In the first half of Saturday's 1-0 win against Championship neighbours Millwall, Palace's opening pre-season friendly, his in-swinging corner was headed back to him. Sosa took a touch to pluck the ball out of the air and control it, adjusted his body and flicked in a dangerous cross with the outside of his boot, only for team-mate Jesurun Rak-Sakyi to guide it over the crossbar. Advertisement Later in the half, Adam Wharton received a pass in the middle, spotted a run Sosa was making into Millwall territory and played a ball ahead of a colleague so new he'd only signed the previous day, for just £2million ($2.7m), from leading Dutch club Ajax. Sosa quickly shifted it out of his feet and crossed again, this time wrapping his foot around the ball, and found Jean-Philippe Mateta, who glanced a header wide of the goal. It was an otherwise unremarkable start to Palace's programme of five warm-up games ahead of the coming season but those were two of the day's more notable moments and served as an excellent representation of the fact that crossing is such a staple of the 27-year-old's game. To be compared with David Beckham is to immediately prompt raised eyebrows. It is easy to see why the comparison was made by Stuttgart's then sporting director Sven Mislintat when speaking about Sosa, Palace's new left wing-back, during his five years with the German club; the flowing blond hair held back by an Alice band is a bit of a giveaway. Far more relevant, though, is the impeccable accuracy and danger levels of his crossing and set-piece deliveries. That, though, is where the similarities tend to end between Sosa, who is left-footed, and the right-footed former England, Real Madrid and Manchester United star — who, according to Mislintat, is the Croatia international's idol. For Palace, this transfer finally presents a possible solution to an issue that has nagged at them for the past four years. Tyrick Mitchell, so dependable as a left-back and a player who has adapted impressively to the wing-back role under manager Oliver Glasner since his appointment 18 months ago, has had no cover or competition for his place since Patrick van Aanholt left the south London side in July 2021. Advertisement It is testament to Mitchell's work rate, fitness and professionalism that he has held his own over that time as Palace prioritised other areas. But, until Ben Chilwell's loan from Chelsea in January, he was their only option at the position. Mitchell played 37 times in the Premier League last season and has missed just six games in total over the four seasons. There has been nobody to come in when he played through minor injury, nor to push him to be more confident in attacking situations. Now, that should change. Sosa's arrival represents good value for money as a squad player, which is how Palace view him. His reputation has diminished somewhat since the days he was attracting interest from Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund while in the Bundesliga with Stuttgart, but he has 26 caps for Croatia. An underwhelming 2023-24 debut season in the Netherlands led to a season-long loan at Torino, but the Serie A side did not see enough to warrant exercising their option to make the move permanent this summer. He had joined Ajax in the same summer that Mislintat began work as their sporting director, but the Amsterdam club operated primarily in a 4-3-3 setup which did not suit Sosa, given it required him to take on considerably more defensive responsibilities. Going forward is where his talents lie. Excellent on the ball and capable of crossing high and wide or low and narrow, he offers plenty in such situations. He is able to get beyond defenders but tends to prefer to cross, and is excellent at finding space to enable him to do so, rather than attacking the penalty area and driving into space. His carry progression last season with Torino placed him in only the 13th percentile relative to other left-backs in Serie A (87 per cent of them did better), strongly highlighting his preference to move the ball out from his feet and cross or pass over progressing it up the pitch. On the ball he is strong, with passing accuracy and intelligence considered to be a key part of his game, alongside good set-piece ability. In 2022-23, his final season with Stuttgart, Sosa attempted (255) and completed (80) the most crosses, and created the most chances (25) from such deliveries, of any Bundesliga player. Only Bayern duo Thomas Muller and Kingsley Coman accumulated more expected assists per 90 minutes. With Torino, though, his creative output was not especially high, putting him in the 16th percentile. Mitchell, in contrast, was in the 86th percentile, although that may be in part due to the respective styles and performances of the two clubs. Sosa's role in attack beyond crossing tends to be helping his team-mates by creating space off the ball. Defensively, there are question marks. Sosa struggles to prevent opposition attackers from progressing beyond him and can also find it difficult to recover quickly, therefore potentially exposing his team's defence — although last season he was above average with his one-v-one defending success rate. He is familiar with the high-pressing approach from his days in the Bundesliga and his ability to play higher up the pitch will suit Palace's system under Glasner. Advertisement The Dinamo Zagreb academy graduate is considered to be someone who is outstanding at the things he does well, but otherwise has limitations. Palace must keep an eye on the recruitment strategy that has served them well in recent seasons and identify younger talent to improve. They would argue, though, that bringing in such apparently reliable and cheap cover allows them to spend more lavishly elsewhere to attract those more youthful players. They consider Sosa to be sufficient backup for Mitchell and strong value for money. It is a signing in keeping with that of goalkeeper Walter Benitez, who joined on a free transfer after his contract with Dutch champions PSV expired this summer — opportunistic and a good-value way to provide cover in an area where it was required. Yet if Sosa can step up to the level of the Premier League and Glasner can bring the best out of him, Palace may have found a competitor for Mitchell at a bargain price.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Liverpool make contact to sign world-class finisher
Liverpool have reportedly made contact to sign one of the best finishers in Europe. At this moment in time Richard Hughes is prioritising signing a no.9 for the Reds. With Darwin Nunez's future up in the air, Liverpool are going to be short of attacking options heading into the new season. With or without Nunez, Liverpool still need another no.9 and who that could be remains to be seen. Alexander Isak is the ultimate dream option. Newcastle United though are unwilling to budge on their stance of not wanting to sell him for the moment. The Reds have alternatives of course. Among them, Hugo Ekitike is high up on Liverpool's radar. However, Benjamin Sesko could also be another option with Liverpool scouts having watched him in action several times for RB Leipzig last season. The duo are not the only two players on the club's radar. Another dream option is Julian Alvarez, although again Atletico Madrid have a pretty strong stance that they won't sell him this summer either. So, who else remains who Liverpool could target? Well, there's another world-class finisher who appears to be on the club's radar and who could be the perfect option for Arne Slot's style of play. As per Foot Mercato Liverpool have made contact with the representatives of Jean-Philippe Mateta earlier this week in a bid to explore a move for the French forward. At first glance, Mateta, who just turned 28-years-old, doesn't feel like a 'typical' Liverpool signing. However, there is much more to this than meets the eye and the Crystal Palace striker may actually be a solid option for the Reds. There are several factors as to why this might be the case. As we mentioned above, Liverpool's dream options Alvarez and Isak seem to be unavailable this summer. Sesko and Ekitike who are the alternatives are project signings and they would demand a significant fee. Are Liverpool in the position to be able to spend or commit to another project forward? It's possible, if the club's scouts are convinced that Sesko and Ekitike could be major successes at Anfield in the long-term. However, if Liverpool decide to hold out for Alvarez or Isak in the hopes that they can sign one of them next summer, Mateta is the more sensible option. He's a proven goal-scorer in the Premier League, who has made 46 goal contributions in his last two seasons at Crystal Palace. Mateta is a real nuisance. He presses the ball really well and he's got the technical qualities to link-up with his teammates. His style of play would be well-suited to the way Slot wants his Liverpool side to play. Especially because Mateta thrives inside the box. In fact he's one of the best finishers in the Premier League. Out of players who average at least 1.8 shots per 90 minutes and have played at least 1500 minutes in England's top flight last season, only Isak (25%) and Bryan Mbeumo (24.4%) had a better goal conversion rate than Mateta (23.3%). Looking around Europe's top five leagues, Mateta ranks in the top 15 strikers above the likes of Erling Haalad (21.3%), Kylian Mbappe (19%) and Joao Pedro (18.9%). So Mateta is one of the best finishers in Europe and he's been producing these numbers at Palace. Just imagine the kind of numbers he could be producing at Liverpool where he would link-up with the likes of Florian Wirtz, Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai. Not to mention Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez will be whipping in crosses for him into the box from the wings. In an environment like that, Mateta could absolutely explode and that's why he could be the club's perfect option this summer if Isak and Alvarez are not available.
