Fabrizio Romano: Crystal Palace 'on it' for next transfer deal after star agrees £3m-per-year salaryplaceholder image
Fabrizio Romano: Crystal Palace 'on it' for next transfer deal after star agrees £3m-per-year salary | Getty Images
Crystal Palace could see one of their key players leave before the end of the deadline after he told the club he wants an exit ‘immediately’
Club captain Marc Guehi was expected to leave the club this summer but his move was sanctioned in January after Manchester City offered a package worth £29m to sign the England international.
Manager Oliver Glasner also confirmed he would not be agreeing a new deal and will leave when his contract expires at the end of the season.
On Friday, the club confirmed the signing of of Evann Guessand on loan from Aston Villa. The deal contains an option to buy of £28m which will become an obligation to buy if an appearance-related clause is triggered.
Guessand said: "I'm really, really excited. I was waiting for this moment for a very long time, and I'm excited to play with my new teammates.
"I think, with the quality we have, we can achieve something."
Chairman Steve Parish said: “Evann is an exciting talent who we are confident will flourish on the South London stage.
“His arrival further bolsters our forward options, as we look to push on in the Premier League and in Europe in the second half of the season.”
His arrival could become hugely important as Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta pushes for a move away from the club.
The Frenchman has been the subject of interest from Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest this month but the Eagles have rejected a £35m bid from the City Ground Club.
AC Milan are contenders to sign him, and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has revealed the striker has told the Palace hierarchy he wants to join the Serie A club ‘immediately’. Initial reports had suggested any move to the north of Italy would be for this summer, but that appears to have changed.
Posting on X, Romano said: “Jean Philippe Mateta has informed Crystal Palace board about his decision to join AC Milan. He wants AC Milan now, immediately even if initial agreement was for June 2026. €3.5m salary net per season agreed with Milan. Palace and AC Milan, on it.”
The player is the club’s top-scorer with eight Premier League goals this season but he will not be part of the squad when the Eagles take on Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon.
"It is nothing to do right now with the transfers. He is not in the [right] place," Glasner said.
"To play makes no sense. We have to protect the team and I have to protect him.
"That is why he will not travel with us to Nottingham."
"Again, there is so much noise, so much speculation, so many things going on," added Glasner.
"We need every single player at their best and JP [Mateta] isn't at his best right now with all the noise that happens.
"It can be football noise, but if someone has private issues where they can't focus on football, then it makes no sense to play.
"He can't help the team and perform at his top level. We decided it is better not to play him."
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