Juventus are eyeing a shock swoop to sign Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta in January, and have already made contact about a deal, according to Sky Sports Italy journalist Gianluca Di Marzio.
The Eagles have had a decent season so far under Oliver Glasner, but there are huge question marks over the futures of several of their key stars, including the manager, which has seen several clubs sniffing around.
Now it has emerged that the Serie A giants are planning to bolster their attacking options, and France international Mateta has emerged as a target this month in what would be a crushing blow for Palace.
Crystal Palace and Juventus in Talks Over Mateta
Jean-Philippe Mateta playing for Crystal PalaceAction Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
Mateta, who has been described as one of the best strikers in the Premier League and called 'phenomenal' by Paul Merson, has seen his form dip this season, but is still the club's top scorer in all competitions with eight goals.
His performances in recent years have sparked big interest, and now Juventus have entered the race for the 28-year-old's signature as they look for a replacement for Dusan Vlahovic.
The Serie A club have already made contact with the Eagles about a deal, and it's reported by Di Marzio that they have quoted the Italian side a fee of at least €35m (£30m) to get a deal done this month. Juventus considers this price to be too high for a player who is out of contract in 2027, but talks are ongoing.
A move for Mateta has already been given the green light by Juventus boss Luciano Spalletti, who is a big fan of the player, but it remains to be seen if a deal can be agreed this month.
GIVEMESPORT sources understand that Mateta would be open to a move to Serie A and is open to leaving Palace at the end of his contract, if a deal isn't agreed beforehand.
Crystal Palace Face Major Dilemmas
Glasner and Parish
Despite the incredible evolution of the Palace team in recent seasons under Glasner, the club are now facing a major crossroads in their plans for progress.
Marc Guehi is set to leave in 2026 when his contract expires, if he doesn't leave beforehand amid interest from Man City, while manager Glasner has also reportedly decided to move on when his contract expires this summer. While those look inevitable, there is also interest in the likes of Mateta and Adam Wharton, and losing them all would be catastrophic.
But the club also cannot afford to lose them all for free, and that makes sales become more realistic. If Juventus can stump up the cash then Palace may be tempted to sell, and replacing him won't be easy, nor will convincing fans that it's the right decision.
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