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Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace | Getty Images
Crystal Palace have until the end of the January transfer window to complete any incoming or outgoing bits of business
Crystal Palace are back in Premier League action this weekend with an away trip to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland. The Eagles are currently positioned in 13th place in the table after 21 fixtures and have 28 points on the board. Oliver Glasner’s side have had to juggle their domestic duties with their Europa Conference League campaign as well.
They were beaten 2-1 away by National League North side Macclesfield last time out. Yeremy Pino got their goal against the Silkmen in Cheshire late on but they weren’t able to find an equaliser. The South London outfit won the competition last year but are out already this time around.
Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta eyed by Juventus
Crystal Palace striker Jean-Phillipe Mateta is wanted by Juventus this winter. According to Sky in Italy, the Serie A giants want to sign him ‘immediately’ as a replacement for Dusan Vlahovic. Manchester United have also been linked with the player recently as Ruben Amorim was keen to sign him before being sacked by the Red Devils.
Mateta, 28, is under contract at Selhurst Park until the summer of 2027. Therefore, he is due to become a free agent next year as things stand unless he pens an extension in the meantime. The Eagles are likely to face a battle to keep hold of him amid attention from elsewhere.
The France international, who has three caps to his name, joined Crystal Palace back in 2021 on an initial loan deal that was later made permanent. He has since become a key player for them at the top end of the pitch and he has scored 48 goals in 149 games in all competitions to date, 10 of which have come this season.
Mateta has also had spells in the past at Lyon and Mainz 05, among others. He has adapted well to English football and his pace and power causes real problems to opposition defenders. It remains to be seen how long he will stay put where is he though now with external interest lingering.
Will Crystal Palace keep hold of Jean-Philippe Mateta amid attention from Juventus and Manchester United?
Crystal Palace risk losing Mateta for nothing when his deal runs out in 18 months which means they may be forced to cash in during the next couple of windows. It would be a blow to lose him, especially if he went to a team in the same division like United. They would likely find it hard to find someone to step into his shoes.
Juventus could provide him with the chance to play in a new country. They are sat in 4th position in the league behind Inter Milan, AC Milan and Napoli. The Turin club beat Jamie Vardy’s Cremonese 5-0 in their last outing.
As per Football Insider, ex-United chief scout Mick Brown has recently delivered his verdict on Mateta’s situation: “I don’t think Glasner has any intention of letting him go in January, it’ll be very hard to replace him and he still has an important role to play. He’s still their first-choice striker even if he’s struggling a bit with the amount of games he’s being asked to play, and they hope he will get back to his best soon.”
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