Liverpool and Newcastle are both tracking Lille forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo. The 21-year-old contributed to 13 goals in 29 Ligue 1 appearances last season and is looked at as a potential cheaper alternative to Yan Diomande, whose valuation is believed to be around €120M. 

A move for Fernandez-Pardo could mean Newcastle would lose out to another target to the Reds after Liverpool's signing of Spain international Víctor Muñoz earlier in the window.

Fernandez-Pardo is among the club's alternatives should they fail to secure the signing of Yan Diomande. Other alternatives include Yankuba Minteh from Brighton and Said El Mala from FC Köln, although journalists have since denied links to the former.

Matias Fernandez-Pardo joined Lille in August 2024 initially playing for their second team, Lille II. The next month he debuted in a Ligue 1 fixture for the first XI on September 13, 2024, as a substitute against Saint-Étienne at the age of 19 years and 222 days.

That season Fernandez-Pardo played 26 games across three competitions with Lille (22), Gent (3), and Lille II (1), scoring five goals and providing two assists.

It was the 2025/2026 season where Fernandez-Pardo had his breakout season. He played the majority of the club's Ligue 1 games, making 29 appearances over 34 matches and playing 2,380 minutes. He has been started 27 of these matches with two further substitute sppearances.

Fernandez-Pardo scored eight goals in the league, last scoring in a 1-0 win over Paris FC on April 26, 2026. His opening goals of the campaign came in the 7-1 victory against Lorient on August 30, 2025, when he scored twice. He last appeared in a competitive game for the club on May 17, playing 90 minutes for Lille in a 2-0 loss to Auxerre. 

His performances for Lille earned him a call-up for the Belgian national team in 2026. He has played six times for the Belgians and is in the squad for the 2026 World Cup but has yet to score.

He is one of the many promising young talents performing well in Europe. He can play out wide or through the middle which ticks the versatility box for Liverpool. He's young which gives him time to develop and raise his level.

His signing would be seen as a smart move, covering a lot of bases in attack while his lower valuation would allow Liverpool to secure more attackers compared to the expected £100 million for Yan Diomande. The lack of depth up front is an issue which urgently needs resolving. 

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