Juventus are set to abandon plans to sign Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta this January after being deterred by the Premier League club’s valuation.
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, the French forward has been on Juventus’ shortlist as they look to strengthen their attacking options during the winter window. The Serie A side are keen to add a reliable goalscorer to their squad, and Mateta had been identified as a possible solution.
That interest has now cooled, with Palace demanding around €40 million for the 28-year-old. Juventus are unwilling to meet that figure and have decided to turn their attention to other targets, with Youssef En-Nesyri now emerging as their preferred alternative.
Mateta’s rise at Selhurst Park has been significant. After arriving from Mainz, he needed time to settle, but he has since grown into a key figure, particularly under Oliver Glasner. His physical presence and improving consistency have made him one of the more dependable forwards in the Premier League.
To date, Mateta has made close to 200 appearances for Crystal Palace, scoring 56 goals and providing 13 assists. Those performances have naturally attracted interest from clubs at the highest level, including Juventus.
From Juventus’ perspective, the search for a striker is driven by doubts over Dusan Vlahovic’s long-term future and the uneven impact of Lois Openda since his arrival from RB Leipzig. Several names have been considered, with Mateta viewed as a realistic option before Palace’s asking price proved prohibitive.
Although the Frenchman is understood to be open to a move to Turin, Palace’s stance has effectively ended the possibility of a January transfer. As things stand, Mateta looks set to remain in South London until at least the summer, while Juventus pursue more affordable options to bolster their frontline.