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Jean-Philippe Mateta could be a major bargain for Everton as striker’s preference shared
Jean-Philippe Mateta playing for Crystal Palace.
Photo by MB Media/Getty Images
@ptrckbennett don't bring him back
💯
@ptrckbennett all thease idetios than want grelish back in the team will only stop free flowing fotball with him in the team we are playing acctacking fotball without him but that will change if he gets back into the team
Jean-Philippe Mateta could be a serious bargain for Everton
TEAMtalk have reported that Everton are one of a few clubs to have monitored Mateta, who is out of contract next summer at Crystal Palace.
So he could be on the move in the next window for a cut-price fee. And there is good news for Everton in that, the Frenchman would prefer to remain in the Premier League.
Manchester United are said to be interested in the player, while Nottingham Forest are also keen. That should come as no real surprise given Oliver Glasner is the Reds’ manager and they worked together at Palace.
But this is an exciting link involving Everton, who obviously need someone to come in. Folarin Balogun has been linked again, but Mateta having as much Premier League experience as he does surely makes him the better option.
He is a proven scorer in this league, having hit 50 goals in 166 top-flight appearances. In total, for Palace, he’s scored 63 in 207 games, having started somewhat slowly when he first came to the club.
In the last three seasons, across all competitions, he’s scored 18, 21 and 19, and also made his debut for France last year to underline his improvements over the last few years.
So he’s a striker who’s proven in the top-flight, has international pedigree and is into the final year of his contract, which really do make him a fine option.
Plus, there is his age and experience. Thierno Barry is doing well at the moment but is clearly not the finished article. Mateta probably has a few pearls of wisdom he could pass on. He would also provide a stern challenge to Barry which could actually be very healthy.
Jean-Philippe Mateta for Crystal Palace
Appearances – 207
Goals – 63
Assists – 14
Trophies – 3
He is certainly the kind of striker David Moyes tends to like, in that he offers good physicality and is a threat in the air. Arguably, he holds the ball up better than Barry, as well, and the fact that he is a slightly different profile is good.
Everton just need someone who can come in and hit the ground running and Mateta offers proven quality and also doesn’t seem like he would break the bank. Certainly the Toffees could do much worse.
Folarin Balogun could get Premier League move yet as Everton and other clubs contacted
Folarin Balogun playing for AS Monaco.
Photo by Frederic DIDES / AFP via Getty Images
Folarin Balogun was arguably the biggest story of the summer transfer deadline day 2026, after his failed move to Everton.
Everton went into the final day of player trading needing a new centre forward, with Beto being sold to Fiorentina. That move had been on the cards for days, and was finalised on deadline day.
Everton then went for Balogun, with a fee being agreed with AS Monaco. But as we all saw, the striker had a change of heart at the last moment.
This was because Everton had expressed reservations about his condition at the medical stage. The CEO of Monaco stated that the Toffees’ concerns ‘made no sense at all’.
So Balogun went back to Monaco and is still there. But speculation has persisted about his future, and it seems it’s not out of the question he could sign for Everton.
How should David Moyes handle Jack Grealish after his breach of club discipline? Is his time at Everton up? 😬
Let us know what you would do below! 👇
@ptrckbennett don't bring him back
💯
@ptrckbennett all thease idetios than want grelish back in the team will only stop free flowing fotball with him in the team we are playing acctacking fotball without him but that will change if he gets back into the team
Everton have been contacted about Folarin Balogun
TEAMtalk report that interest is already mounting in Balogun ahead of the January transfer window.
The USMNT international’s situation is said to have ‘deteriorated’ this season, and he has been left out of the French side’s Europa League squad. And he has only played four times for Monaco in the league, coming off the bench.
But Balogun remains coveted, and TEAMtalk are reporting that Manchester United are now considering him as a January signing.
🔴 Man Utd offered the chance to sign Folarin Balogun from AS Monaco in January @GraemeBailey | #MUFC https://t.co/AmqHhbB5Gs
— TEAMtalk (@TEAMtalk) November 1, 2026
But interestingly, the report also says that Everton have been spoken to regarding Balogun and a possible move. Furthermore, Leeds United, Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest have also been made aware of his availability.
It was also reported earlier this week that Juventus were showing interest in Balogun.
His exit is being worked on by the superagent Jorge Mendes, who previously helped Everton to sign James Rodriguez from Real Madrid.
Why Everton must look elsewhere
From the language used in the report, it doesn’t sound too likely at the moment that Everton are actually interested in reigniting a move for Balogun.
And given what happened at the end of the last transfer window, the club might just be better off looking at alternatives.
Balogun was clearly not comfortable signing for Everton and felt compelled to walk away. When a player does that, it doesn’t feel especially wise to move for them in the very next window.
Plus, there is the fact that he hasn’t even played much football, and Everton could do with someone who is going to hit the ground running.
Journalist Greg O’Keefe recently also suggested that Balogun wouldn’t necessarily have stayed at Everton long-term, and that he had been hoping to join a club playing in a European competition. So perhaps ultimately it was never the smartest move anyway.