After welcoming a wrath of new signings to Anfield already, Liverpool are not showing any signs of slowing down in the transfer market.
If you thought the arrival of Florian Wirtz for a Premier League record fee of £116m was a big splash, then think again. The Reds could be set to break the British record again before transfer deadline day.
With Darwin Nunez reportedly on his way out of Merseyside, Liverpool’s desire to sign a new striker has been no secret.
Their admiration for a certain Alexander Isak is no secret either, and that move looks as though it’s now gathering momentum.
The latest on Alexander Isak to Liverpool
What a move this would be, and despite the obstacles surrounding a deal, it does look more likely than it ever has done now.
Indeed, on Tuesday afternoon, The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed that Liverpool have made an approach to sign Isak from Newcastle.
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A formal offer has yet been made and the Toon’s stance remains that they do not want to sell him this summer. Alas, the Reds have signalled their intention to do a deal at £120m.
While the fee certainly complicates things, so does Hugo Ekitike. Newcastle submitted their first bid for the Eintracht Frankfurt attacker on Monday and the word on the street is that he wasn’t going to be an Isak replacement, but someone capable of playing alongside the Swede.
The trouble is, Liverpool are also interested in Ekitike and, according to Fabrizio Romano, Arne Slot’s men will likely look towards signing the Frenchman if they cannot get their hands on Isak.
Liverpool pursuing Isak alternative
With that situation a rather sticky one as far as Liverpool are concerned, perhaps they will look elsewhere in the Premier League.
Reports from French outlet Foot Mercato reported at the start of the week that Liverpool reps have flown to Paris to speak with the agents of Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.
While the likes of Isak and Ekitike will cost a shedload, any deal for Mateta is likely to be considerably cheaper, with the report stating that he could be sold for something between £43m-£52m if he leaves Selhurst Park this summer.
So, if all else fails, he’d be a great signing right? Well, he certainly stacks up well to Mr Isak.
How Mateta compares to Alexander Isak
Of course, Isak is the dream signing this summer, the Toon’s main man always has been. You don’t score 23 Premier League goals in a single season without catching the eye of other clubs.
Yet, we must not turn our noses up at Mateta either. In the words of the Sportsman he is a “goal-scoring machine” and as Reds writer Ben Bocsak notes, he is one of the “best finishers in the Premier League.”
Indeed, during the 2024/25 campaign, only Isak (25%) and Bryan Mbeumo (24.3%), registered a better season in terms of goal conversions than Mateta’s 23.3%. Mo Salah, for context, delivered a goal conversion rate of 23%. The Eagles centre-forward is already in the conversation of being among the division’s elite attackers.
He ended that term with 14 league goals in 37 outings and has been one of the top-flight’s leading figures in the last two seasons, notably bagging 16 in 35 during 2023/24.
The French sensation is not just a goalscorer either. Like Isak, he’s a proven bagsman in England’s top-flight, but like Isak, he’s also capable of the extraordinary, something we saw when Mateta travelled to the Emirates Stadium and scored an audacious lob against Arsenal.
Isak might be more of a direct runner but they’re both powerful and some statistical similarities can be drawn upon.
Assessing the data, via FBRef, it becomes clear where the key similarities and differences lie.
Shots
2.31
3.10
Shots on target
0.99
1.34
Shot on target %
42.6%
43.2%
Shot distance
15.6 yards
14.5 yards
Key passes
0.99
1.34
Passes into final 3rd
1.16
1.14
Touches
25
33
Successful take on %
43.5%
46.2%
There are obvious differences in the way they beat a player. Isak is more fleet-footed, possessing that dangerous burst of pace to get beyond the defensive line. Mateta, on the other hand, is more likely to outmuscle a centre-back and hold the ball up.
He’s like an “old-fashioned” striker as Thierry Henry once said. Yet, they are actually involved in the play at a similar rate.
They touch the ball a similar number of times per 90 minutes, register a similar number of shots on target and shoot from a similar distance, just beyond the penalty spot. On that evidence, they’re not just out-and-out poachers; they offer goals from distance too.
Isak would be an unbelievable signing for the Reds but in Mateta they could sign a Premier League-proven forward with a similar conversion rate for a fraction of the price. Just imagine what he could do in a team where more chances are created. This move feels like a no-brainer if Ekitike and Newcastle’s number 9 are off the table.
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