Jean-Philippe Mateta is open to a move to Serie A, talkSPORT has learned.
The Crystal Palace forward has become one of the club’s standout performers and played a key role in last season’s FA Cup triumph. Despite that, he has yet to reach an agreement on a new contract, with his current deal running only until the summer of 2027.
Mateta is expected to evaluate his future once the 2026 World Cup finishes next year. The 28-year-old could even feature for France at the tournament after scoring twice in his first three international outings of 2024.
With no clarity over his long-term plans, sources indicate that Mateta would welcome a switch to Italy. AC Milan are among the clubs monitoring him, with the Serie A leaders considering the Palace striker as a possible addition to an attacking group that already includes Santiago Giménez, Rafael Leão and Christopher Nkunku.
Mateta’s impact this season
The Frenchman grabbed his seventh Premier League goal of the campaign in Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Manchester United, taking his total to nine across all competitions. That tally includes his strike in the Community Shield victory over Liverpool in August.
He remains Palace’s top scorer this season, closely followed by Ismaïla Sarr on eight goals. Mateta has appeared in all 22 of the club’s matches so far, starting in all but one.
Potential double setback for Palace
Mateta may not be the only star heading for the exit. Marc Guéhi is also expected to leave next summer after Oliver Glasner confirmed this will be the defender’s final season at Selhurst Park.
The club captain was strongly linked with Liverpool during the last transfer window, but a deadline-day move collapsed — followed by the premature leak of his farewell video online. With Guéhi now in the final year of his contract, Palace risk losing him on a free at the end of the season.