Jean-Philippe Mateta is said to have informed Crystal Palace that he wants to move on, with the French striker feeling the club no longer aligns with his ambitions.
The 28 year old is understood to be frustrated that assurances over squad strengthening and the terms of a possible new contract were not followed through. Mateta is believed to be pushing for regular European football and was recently the subject of interest from Juventus.
Mateta growing frustrated at Selhurst Park
Reports suggest relations between Mateta and the Palace hierarchy have cooled significantly. Sky Sports claim the forward was already keen to leave last summer amid links to several clubs. Talks over a new deal later in 2025 failed to make progress, leaving the striker convinced his future lies elsewhere. His current contract runs until the summer of 2027.
Juventus among clubs monitoring the situation
According to The Times, Juventus submitted a loan proposal that would have taken Mateta to Turin until the end of the season for a £1.7 million fee, with a further £24 million due if the Italian side qualified for European competition. Palace turned the offer down and are thought to value the striker at around £35 million.
Juventus are looking to strengthen their attack due to ongoing issues surrounding Dusan Vlahovic. The Serbian has been sidelined with a shoulder problem since November and, while expected back in March, is also approaching the end of his contract with the Italian champions.
Aston Villa have also been mentioned as possible suitors. While Unai Emery’s side have been linked with a return for Tammy Abraham, they are also believed to be considering Mateta after loaning Donyell Malen to Roma last week.
Manchester United were strongly linked with the Palace striker last summer, but the departure of Ruben Amorim and heavy spending on Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo makes a January move unlikely. Football Transfers also report that Chelsea have now made contact with Mateta’s representatives.
Uncertainty continues at Crystal Palace
Mateta appears to be following a growing list of departures from Selhurst Park. Earlier this month, Palace agreed a £20 million deal to sell Marc Guehi to Manchester City as the defender entered the final six months of his contract.
Not long after, FA Cup-winning manager Oliver Glasner confirmed he would leave the club when his deal expires in the summer. The Austrian was reportedly unhappy with decisions surrounding the departures of Eberechi Eze and Guehi, having previously felt his squad was being weakened.
Before a recent match against Sunderland, Glasner admitted he felt “abandoned” by the club’s leadership. That public criticism led chairman Steve Parish to consider making an immediate change, before deciding the manager would remain in charge until the end of the season.