The striker only signed for the Bundesliga outfit last summer, when they bought him to replace Newcastle-bound Muto.
If the report is true, it would be such a typical Lee Charnley tactic – offer low, and have little chance of being successful.
Cynical fans will point to other occasions that tactic has been used by the Newcastle Managing Director – such as Nicolai Jorgensen and Dennis Praet – when he bid way below valuations, and, unsurprisingly, failed to sign the players.
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Charnley, on the other hand, would point to his handling of the Miguel Almiron signing, where he had his own valuation of the player, and stuck to it, with MLS side, Atlanta United, eventually relenting, and accepting the original offer.
But the tactic is destined to fail much more often than it succeeds, and Toon fans will question how serious the club are to sign Mateta, with it seen to be a token gesture to appease unsettled supporters.
Mateta is an exciting prospect should Newcastle manage to sign him
No doubt Mateta would be an exciting acquisition, having racked up an impressive 14 goals and three assists in just 34 league games last season.
With Joselu said to be on the verge of leaving, Gayle looking surplus to requirements and Rondon’s loan deal ending without any sign of him returning, Newcastle have no senior striker options at the club for next season.
With other clubs knowing as much, they may feel they can add a premium onto player values, aware that Newcastle will simply have to pay it, eventually, such is their need to bring in recruits.