Image source: bbc.com
Jean-Philippe Mateta has informed Crystal Palace he wants to leave the club amid interest from Premier League and European sides. The 28-year-old France striker has 18 months remaining on his contract and, as things stand, will not sign an extension. Juventus have attempted to sign him this month but have not met Palace’s valuation, believed to be around £40m, with Aston Villa also interested.
Mateta tells Crystal Palace he wants to leave amid Juventus, Villa interest
France striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has told Crystal Palace he wants to leave as interest builds from other Premier League and European clubs. The 28-year-old has 18 months left on his contract at Selhurst Park and, as things stand, will not be signing an extension. Mateta has scored 54 goals in 177 appearances for Palace.
Juventus have tried to sign Mateta this month but have so far failed to reach Palace’s valuation, which is believed to be around £40m. Aston Villa, who have been keen on the striker for some time, have also shown interest in a move during this window. Palace manager Oliver Glasner admitted last week the club are listening to offers for Mateta.
“There will be a price that Crystal Palace [accept], with 18 months left on his contract. We’d do the deal, if JP wants. If nobody pays that price, then he will stay,” Glasner said. The Austrian also announced last week that he will leave the club at the end of the season and criticised the Palace hierarchy following Saturday’s loss to Sunderland, claiming the team had been “abandoned” by the club’s recruitment strategy.
The report said sources with knowledge of Mateta’s situation believe the player is disappointed with the club’s attitude because it has not kept its promises in terms of a new contract, recruitment and ambition, and that the forward is keen on a new challenge. Mateta has aims of playing in the Champions League and representing France at the World Cup, having made his senior debut in October and scored in his last two appearances for Les Bleus.
The timing lands in what the report described as a difficult period at Selhurst Park. Palace, who won the FA Cup in May, sold Eberechi Eze to Arsenal in the summer and have lost captain Marc Guehi this month after he joined Manchester City in a £20m deal. Palace were also knocked out of the FA Cup at non-league Macclesfield earlier this month, and the report said Mateta is playing through a knee injury.
