In search of a new striker this January transfer window, Newcastle United are first looking in the Premier League for the right man, it seems.
That’s according to RMC Sport, who report the Magpies have turned their attention to Jean-Philippe Mateta, currently on loan at Crystal Palace.
Sent there by Mainz 05 in January 2021, the player struggled to get any game time under Roy Hodgson, and that appeared to be the case with Patrick Vieira in charge again until very recently.
However, some starts and a few goals later, with the latest coming in the 2-1 FA Cup win against Millwall, has seen his status change a little bit, which has been a huge frustration for AS Saint-Etienne, who wanted him to arrive on loan this January.
There was a belief it could be done, but the latest articles on the matter suggest that’s looking more difficult, and the arrival of Newcastle on the scene will complicate matters even further.
RMC Sport explain that both FC Basel (for a loan) and the Magpies (the nature of their request isn’t known yet) have ‘made their interest known’.
Crystal Palace have the option to make the loan a permanent transfer for €15m at any time, but have yet to do so.
Perhaps if Newcastle come knocking, they could just do that and sell him immediately for a profit? Just a thought.
