“Forget Ekitike! Liverpool in SHOCK £43M Talks for ‘UNSTOPPABLE BEAST’ to Rival Isak – You Won’t Believe Who!”
Liverpool’s summer transfer activity shows no signs of slowing, even after the record-breaking £116 million arrival of Florian Wirtz.
With Darwin Nunez expected to leave, the Reds are actively pursuing a new striker, and Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak has emerged as their top target.
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Liverpool have made initial contact with Newcastle regarding Isak, signalling a willingness to pay up to £120 million.
However, the Magpies remain firm in their stance that the Swedish striker is not for sale this summer.
The situation is further complicated by Newcastle’s own pursuit of Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike.
While Ekitike is not being lined up as a direct replacement for Isak, Liverpool are also interested in the Frenchman and may shift focus to him should their Isak pursuit fail.
If both Isak and Ekitike prove unattainable, Liverpool may turn their attention to Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta.
French outlet Foot Mercato reports that club representatives have flown to Paris to meet with the striker’s agents. Mateta, likely to cost between £43m and £52m, is a significantly more affordable option.
While Isak is the marquee name, Mateta compares surprisingly well.
He scored 14 goals in 37 league appearances last season and 16 in 35 the year before, boasting a 23.3% goal conversion rate—just behind Isak (25%) and Bryan Mbeumo (24.3%), and even ahead of Mohamed Salah (23%).
Statistically, the two strikers are more similar than expected. While Isak relies on pace and dribbling to get past defenders, Mateta uses physicality and hold-up play.
Both average a similar number of touches and shots per 90 minutes, with comparable shooting distances, highlighting their versatility beyond just poaching in the box.
Though Isak would undoubtedly be a major coup, Mateta represents a proven Premier League goalscorer with strong finishing ability, potentially available at less than half the cost.
In a Liverpool side that creates more chances than Palace, his output could soar. Should deals for Isak and Ekitike fall through, Mateta could prove to be a shrewd and highly effective alternative.
