Crystal Palace Omit Mateta from Forest Clash Amid Intense Transfer Speculation
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has confirmed that striker Jean-Philippe Mateta will not feature in the squad for Sunday's Premier League encounter against Nottingham Forest. Glasner attributed this decision to the player being "not at his best" due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding his future at the club.
Milan's £35 Million Offer and Mateta's Serie A Ambitions
Serie A giants AC Milan have entered the race to sign the 28-year-old French forward, submitting an offer worth up to £35 million. This falls short of Palace's £40 million valuation, but negotiations are understood to be progressing. Mateta has reportedly agreed personal terms with Milan on a three-and-a-half-year contract, with his preference firmly set on a move to Italy to enhance his prospects of a summer World Cup call-up.
Palace are carefully considering the bid, having also received a £35 million offer from Nottingham Forest last week. The club is reluctant to sell to a direct Premier League rival, which may favour Milan's pursuit. Glasner, when questioned about whether Mateta has played his last game for Palace, remained non-committal, emphasising the need to protect team dynamics.
Manager Glasner Cites Player Welfare and Team Focus
"It's nothing to do with the transfers, he is just not in the right place and doesn't feel in the right place to play," Glasner explained. "It makes no sense. I have to protect the team and that is why he will not travel with us to the game. There's so much noise and speculation – you need every single player at his best, and JP isn't at his best right now with all the noise that happens."
The manager further elaborated that private issues and an inability to focus on football rendered Mateta unsuitable for selection, as his performance would not meet the required standard to aid the team.
Palace's Striker Search and Potential Replacements
Should Mateta depart, Crystal Palace are actively seeking reinforcements. Talks with Wolverhampton Wanderers over Norwegian striker Jørgen Strand Larsen have stalled, with Palace yet to formalise a verbal agreement for a deal worth £45 million plus £5 million in add-ons. This potential record-breaking fee, exceeding the £35 million paid for Brennan Johnson, has caused hesitation among the Palace hierarchy.
Additionally, the club is close to securing Ivory Coast forward Evann Guessand on loan from Aston Villa, with an option to make the move permanent. Juventus had shown late interest in Guessand, but Palace remain confident of completing the signing before Monday's deadline. Efforts to sign 19-year-old Sidiki Cherif from Angers have been rebuffed, with the player favouring a move to Fenerbahce.
Defensive Reinforcements and Deadline Day Dynamics
Beyond attacking options, Palace are also targeting a central defender to replace the departed Marc Guéhi. Glasner acknowledged the club's relentless efforts, stating, "The club is working almost 24 hours a day. You can imagine it's not so easy at the end of January but I see the club working really hard to get players in."
The manager concluded by highlighting the fluid nature of the transfer window, noting, "But to be clear, it can be that JP stays and is still a Palace player on 2 February or it could be that JP has left and we have a new striker at the club." This underscores the pivotal role Mateta's situation plays in Palace's end-of-window strategy.
