Crystal Palace have been rocked by reports that their star striker, Jean-Philippe Mateta, is keen on a move away from Selhurst Park. The French international's future is now a major concern for the club as he enters the final 18 months of his contract, which runs until 2027.
Mateta's Prolific Form and Contract Standoff
Since joining initially on loan in 2021, the 28-year-old forward has become a crucial figure for the Eagles. He has been in exceptional form, scoring 55 goals in 174 appearances overall. This season, he is the team's leading scorer with seven goals in 13 Premier League matches, and he also netted a vital goal in the Europa Conference League play-off against Fredrikstad.
Despite his importance to the side, talkSPORT reports that Mateta has shown a reluctance to sign a contract extension. While he is not aggressively pushing for a January exit, his desire to explore options elsewhere at the end of his deal presents a significant problem for the South London club.
Serie A Giants AC Milan Circle for Signature
The primary source of interest in Mateta is said to come from Italy, with AC Milan showing strong admiration. The Rossoneri, currently top of Serie A under manager Massimiliano Allegri, are undergoing a rebuild and view the Palace striker as a potential addition to their attacking ranks.
Milan, who last won the Scudetto in 2022, boast forwards like Rafael Leao and Christopher Nkunku but are reportedly keen to bolster their options as they aim to return to the pinnacle of Italian and European football.
Palace's Tough Decision and Summer Dilemma
Crystal Palace are renowned for their tough negotiating stance, as demonstrated by their retention of Marc Guehi last summer despite heavy interest. They now face a similar, if not more pressing, dilemma with Mateta.
The club's hierarchy must decide whether to:
- Sell their top scorer in the upcoming summer transfer window to secure a substantial fee.
- Risk losing him for free in 2027 by keeping him for the remainder of his contract.
For now, a January departure is considered unlikely, but the situation sets the stage for a pivotal summer. Palace must weigh the immediate impact of losing a player with 45 goals since the start of the 2023/24 campaign against the financial imperative of not letting a major asset leave for nothing.
