Borussia Dortmund target Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta

Borussia Dortmund are said to be pondering a move for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe MatetaJean-Philippe Mateta, per Bild.

Borussia Dortmund’s search for reinforcements is allegedly taking them to the shores of England with the club eyeing a move for Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta. Per Bild, Dortmund are looking for a Lukaku-esque player, and Mateta’s physique and style of play seem to fit that particular requirement for the club.

Mateta’s profile is that of an out and out striker, which deviates from Dortmund’s original plan to add a more flexible attacker to the side. It would seem that plan has shifted with Die Schwarzgelben now preferring a strong, physical player to help alleviate Haller’s absence when he travels to AFCON with the Ivory Coast.

Dortmund were previously linked with PSG’s Hugo Ekitiké, but as we’ve previously touched on, a move for Ekitiké would have to be accompanied by assurances of time on the pitch. Mateta would make more sense from the standpoint that he would not really stand in the way of Moukoko’s development and time on the pitch. He would be a clear third choice from a tactical perspective and the expectations regarding minutes would not be as high as with a player of Ekitiké’s profile.

Mateta is also already familiar with the Bundesliga, having played for Mainz over the course of 2 and a half seasons. In his most prolific league campaign, Mateta scored 14 goals in 34 appearances, proving to be one of Mainz’s most important players in the 2018/19 season. His time with Crystal Palace has seen his numbers take a sharp dive, with the player only scoring twice last season across 29 appearances.

According to reports, Crystal Palace are looking for an 8 million euro fee, which is very much affordable for Dortmund. This could leave more room for the club to fill roles that are more pressing, mainly center back and right back.