Arsenal and Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing 28-year-old French international Jean-Philippe Mateta from Crystal Palace.

According to a report by Caught Offside, Arsenal and Liverpool are keen on signing Jean-Philippe Mateta. The two Premier League bigwigs are eager to reinforce their offensive units by landing a striker next year. So, the 28-year-old Crystal Palace centre-forward has emerged as a target for them.

While recent reports have linked the Frenchman with several other Premier League clubs, the latest update suggests that Arsenal and Liverpool are “the main teams to watch” in the race to sign him from Crystal Palace. Meanwhile, the South London outfit will aim to tie Mateta to a new contract.

How has Jean-Philippe Mateta fared at Crystal Palace?

Jean-Philippe Mateta has been among the most underrated strikers in the Premier League since joining Crystal Palace from FSV Mainz 05. The South London outfit initially signed the 28-year-old on loan in January 2022 before sealing a permanent move 12 months latest in a deal worth €15 million. While the player did not hit the ground running at Selhurst Park, he has transformed into a prolific striker under Oliver Glasner.

The French striker has made over 150 appearances thus far for Crystal Palace while chipping in with 54 goals and 12 assists. Meanwhile, Mateta’s progress in the last two seasons has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs. Arsenal and Liverpool are among the prospective suitors vying for his signature.

Move across the Premier League beckoning?

Jean-Philippe Mateta has been on Liverpool’s radar for a long time. However, the continued interest is perplexing, considering the Merseyside outfit signed Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak in the summer transfer window. Nevertheless, the Crystal Palace striker is a target for Liverpool.

As for Arsenal, the North London club also signed a striker in the summer transfer window, with Viktor Gyokeres arriving from Sporting CP. With Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus also in the squad, it is unclear how Mateta fits into the scheme of things, even if Jesus departs from the Emirates.

However, the report has revealed that Arsenal and Liverpool are “the main teams to watch” in the race to sign the 28-year-old French international from Crystal Palace. But with the South London club keen on tying Mateta to a new contract, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for the Frenchman.