Newcastle were linked with Lyon goal machine Mateta earlier this week.
French newspaper L’Equipe have claimed that German Bundesliga side Mainz have made an £8.8million offer for Lyon forward Jean-Philippe Mateta, after he was linked with Newcastle United earlier this week.
English website TeamTALK claimed on Monday that Newcastle were interested in the 20-year-old, who has shone for Ligue 2 side Le Havre during a season-long loan away from Lyon.
The 6ft 3in forward scored 19 goals in just 37 league and cup appearances for the loan side, and is now being tracked by a number of European sides – with TeamTALK also claiming West Ham, Everton and Leicester are keen.
However, the Premier League quartet’s pursuit of Mateta may have taken a blow after L’Equipe claimed Mainz have submitted an offer for the lethal France youth international.
Newcastle are likely to be after a striker after Dwight Gayle, Joselu and Islam Slimani failed to provide the Toon with a regular source of goals. Everton are known for their youth, while West Ham are ready to splasht ecash.
It remains to be seen if Lyon want to keep Mateta, with three years still left to run on his contract with the Ligue 1 giants. But with only two senior appearances for Lyon to his name, he may look to move.
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