Jean-Philippe Mateta cut a frustrated figure on Saturday night as his proposed move from Crystal Palace to AC Milan stalled, with the Eagles still scrambling to line up a replacement.
The 28-year-old striker had been waiting for approval to fly from London to Italy to undergo a medical and complete a three-and-a-half-year deal with the Serie A side. Instead, Mateta took to Instagram, posting a single frustrated emoji to his 300,000 followers as the delay dragged on.
Palace’s leading scorer this season has already agreed personal terms with Milan, but the south London club are unwilling to sanction his departure until they secure cover up front. Their focus remains on Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, with talks having reached an agreement in principle worth £45 million plus a further £5 million in add ons. Issues over how those payments would be structured have so far prevented the deal from being finalised.
Speaking on Friday, Palace manager Oliver Glasner confirmed Mateta would not travel with the squad for Sunday’s Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest.
“This has nothing to do with transfers right now,” Glasner explained. “He’s not in the right place mentally. It makes no sense to play him. I have to protect the team and I also have to protect him.”
Glasner admitted he felt the ongoing speculation had affected the striker’s focus.
“There is so much noise around him,” he said. “When a player can’t fully concentrate on football, whether that comes from football reasons or private issues, then he can’t perform at his top level. In that situation, he can’t help the team.”
Palace currently sit 15th in the Premier League and have already seen former captain Marc Guehi leave for Manchester City during the window. A replacement for Guehi has yet to arrive, adding further pressure ahead of Monday’s deadline.
Glasner, who has already confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the season, insisted the recruitment team is working hard behind the scenes.
“Marc left two weeks ago and no one has come in yet,” he said. “At this stage of the window it’s never easy, because every club wants to have a successful season.”
He added that the club is planning for all outcomes regarding Mateta.
“It could be that Jean-Philippe stays and is still a Palace player in February, or it could be that he leaves and a new striker comes in,” Glasner said. “Those are the two scenarios we are preparing for right now.”