Juventus’ pursuit of Jean-Philippe Mateta appeared to have stalled last week, with reports in Italy suggesting the Serie A giants had cooled their interest in the Crystal Palace striker.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Juve had been put off by the level of commission being sought by Mateta’s representatives, while Palace’s valuation was also seen as too high, despite personal terms already being discussed with the player. Those complications pushed the Turin club towards alternative targets.
Attention then shifted to Fenerbahce forward Youssef En-Nesyri, with sporting director Marco Ottolini travelling to Istanbul to try to finalise a deal. That move has since run into trouble as well, with Sevilla entering the picture and causing the Morocco international to reconsider a switch to Italy.
Now, Mateta appears to be back in the frame. La Stampa reports that the 28-year-old and his camp have held fresh talks regarding a potential move to Juventus, with dialogue described as ongoing. Palace have also been informed that an offer in excess of 30 million euros could be revisited.
That has led the Eagles to rethink their position. While the club had initially set their asking price at around 40 million euros and preferred a permanent sale only, they may now be open to lowering their demands.
Interest in Mateta is not limited to Juventus, with AC Milan and several Premier League sides also monitoring the situation. Even so, the French striker is said to be keen on a move to Turin and views Juventus as his preferred option.
Ultimately, the deal may hinge on Mateta’s desire to push it through. From Palace’s perspective, a January exit still presents problems, given the lack of time to source a replacement, making a summer sale a far more practical outcome.