Mateta Crystal Palace Selhurst Park
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Crystal Palace have already started scouting replacements for Jean-Philippe Mateta which basically means the Eagles will allow him to leave at the end of this season. Some of the biggest names in England and in Europe have been linked with the forward and the Palace management feels this is the perfect time to cash in on him.
In the Premier League, Manchester United have been tipped as one of the favourites to sign the Frenchman and outside of England, clubs like Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and AC Milan are also interested in him.
The forward has been in sensational form this season, scoring 17 and assisting 4 goals in 45 appearances. His contract with Palace expires in 2026 and even though Glasner does not want to lose such a valuable player, Palace will entertain offers of around €50 million.
Jean-Philippe Mateta is not going to be a Man United player:
Jean-Philippe Mateta has now spent five seasons with the Eagles and his previous two campaigns have been outstanding. Last season he scored 19 goals and this campaign he’s netted 17 with an xG of 13. The forward wants to play for the French national team in the 2026 World Cup which is why he feels he needs to move to a bigger club in the summer.
However, at this point, Manchester United are just not a suitable destination for the centre-forward.
Man United will not be playing in Europe next season whereas Palace have secured Europa League qualification by winning the FA Cup. United’s loss to Spurs in midweek will massively affect their transfer plans and we doubt if Mateta (and a few others) will want to join them or not.
The 27-year-old has other suitors like Bayern Munich, Milan and Atletico Madrid, all of whom are much more lucrative options and at Bayern, he will not only be able to play in the Champions League but there are guaranteed trophies as well.
Even if he does not decide to move out of England, remaining at Selhurst Park will make more sense for Mateta since he gets to play in the Europa League next season.
Manchester United will offload Rasmus Hojlund in the summer so Mateta can come in and become the undisputed number 9. However, if the striker has the 2026 World Cup in his mind then he is going to snub the Red Devils. The only way United can lure in the player is by offering him an inflated contract but the club has moved away from the strategy ever since INEOS has taken over.