Crystal Palace are at odds with Jean-Philippe Mateta.
A story from the Daily Mail recently claimed that the Eagles want to keep the France international around with UEFA Europa League football on the schedule next season.
However, those who represent the Frenchman still want to arrange an exit from Selhurst Park – after coming close to sealing a £30m move to AC Milan in January.
There had been very few reports linking Crystal Palace to a new striker – suggesting Steve Parish was confident about keeping Mateta – but a new story from Foot Mercato suggests the UEFA Conference League winners may now be planning for life without the man born in Sevran.
What would YOU do with Mateta? 🇫🇷
Crystal Palace approaching PSG over Randal Kolo Muani might be telling
Foot Mercato now state that Crystal Palace have opened talks with PSG over Randal Kolo Muani after learning that the 27-year-old is available.
Pierre Sage already has Jorgen Strand Larsen and Mateta – not to mention Eddie Nketiah – so the signing of another striker would make absolutely no sense unless one of these options is heading for the exit.
Furthermore, PSG are requesting £34m for Kolo Muani, which is close to the £30m we would expect to receive for Mateta, so the similarity of the financial figures involved only adds to the theory that the former Eintracht Frankfurt striker may replace the Crystal Palace No.14 this summer.
It is certainly an interesting development which should have the fanbase thinking.
Mateta has already entered the final 12 months of his contract, and as seen when Parish sanctioned the £20m sale of Marc Guehi to Manchester City in January, the man from Forest Hill does not like to lose his assets on free transfers.
Therefore, it very much seems like Crystal Palace are preparing for life after Mateta by approaching PSG over the signing of Kolo Muani – who is of a similar profile to the former Lyon striker too.
Who is your DREAM signing? ⭐️
Once France exit the World Cup – which could be a while given their current status as favourites – we would expect the situation involving Mateta to become a lot clearer.
