Nottingham Forest have submitted a £35m offer for Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta, who has informed the south London club of his wish to leave. The France international is among Forest’s primary targets as they seek to bolster a frontline that has scored only 23 Premier League goals this season, the second-lowest tally in the division.
Palace are reluctant to part with the 28-year-old without securing a replacement and are thought to be holding out for a package worth up to £40m, despite Mateta having less than 18 months remaining on his contract. The striker has also attracted interest from Juventus and Aston Villa this month, and has indicated a preference for a club competing in the Champions League to enhance his chances of representing France at the summer World Cup.
Forest, who sit 17th in the table three points behind Palace in 15th, host the Eagles on Sunday. The Midlands club are believed to be prepared to match Mateta’s wage demands. Relations between the two clubs have been strained since Forest replaced Palace in the Europa League on a technicality involving multi-club ownership rules.
Forest have already added to their attacking options this month by signing 6ft 7in striker Lorenzo Lucca on loan from Napoli with an option to buy. They retain an interest in Wolves’ Jørgen Strand Larsen, who is also on the radar of Palace and Leeds United. Olympiakos forward Mehdi Taremi has also been linked with a move to the City Ground.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa, who had also shown interest in Mateta, are now pursuing a deal to re-sign former loanee Tammy Abraham. The striker, who spent last season on loan at Milan, has travelled to England for a medical ahead of a potential move from Besiktas.
