Newcastle are reportedly in pole position to land Lyon star Jean-Phillipe Mateta.
Newcastle United are reportedly winning the race to sign Lyon attacker Jean-Philippe Mateta ahead of three Premier League rivals this summer – but Toon fans remain frustrated despite the link.
Football website TeamTalk have claimed that 20-year-old Mateta is a target for West Ham United, Everton and Leicester City – but Newcastle are winning the race to sign the France youth international.
Mateta has made just two senior appearances for Lyon, but it is his form with second-tier French outfit Le Havre where he has impressed during the 2017-18 season – scoring 19 goals in 37 league and cup outings.
The striker is renowned for his pace despite standing at a lofty 6ft 3in, which helped him fire Le Havre to the Ligue 2 play-offs last season – only for the French side to falter in the crucial end-of-season encounters.
But for Mateta, he has shown just what he is capable to Lyon and indeed interested parties, and Newcastle are now keen to bring the striker to St. James’ Park with Aleksander Mitrovic interesting loan side Fulham (Chronicle).
Newcastle fans reacted to the link to Mateta on Twitter, but the majority believe that The Toon will miss out on signing the forward because of owner Mike Ashley’s continued stronghold on Newcastle’s purse strings.
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