RB Leipzig’s sports director Max Eberl is apparently driving the already major upheaval in the cup winner. As the French sports daily “L’Équipe” reports, the club is interested in former Mainz striker Jean-Philippe Mateta from Crystal Palace and defender Arthur Theate from Stade Rennes. So far this summer, Leipzig have signed nine new players. Eight football professionals from last season’s squad were handed over.
According to the report, Leipzig made an offer of seven million euros for the 26-year-old Frenchman to Mateta’s club Crystal Palace. This was immediately rejected. Mateta moved to London in winter 2022 for eleven million euros and would like to leave the club this summer due to low chances of playing time. However, it is unlikely that Leipzig will go on the offensive again.
Theate should help to close the gap in the defense caused by the departures of Josko Gvardiol and Marcel Halstenberg. Previously, Castello Lukeba had been signed by Olympique Lyon. Like Lukeba, the Belgian Theate is left-footed and can be used both in central defense and on the outside. Leipzig is said to have made a loan offer for the 23-year-old with a subsequent purchase obligation. The talks are apparently still ongoing. Theate only switched from FC Bologna to Rennes for almost 20 million euros a year ago and could now be too expensive for Leipzig.
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