In a summer which has seen Crystal Palace battle to keep star players, now interest is growing in another key name.
For Crystal Palace, this summer is as much focused on departures as it is on new arrivals. Given the impressive form of Oliver Glasner’s team last season, the club is experiencing a surge in interest that is proving challenging to manage.
Michael Olise has already left the club, and there are ongoing rumors about potential departures of Ebere Eze and Marc Guehi, with both players attracting significant interest.
Now, there are also reports suggesting that another of Glasner’s standout players might be on the move this summer.
Here’s the latest on the situation…
Roma are reportedly interested in Jean-Philippe Mateta as they seek a budget-friendly replacement for Romelu Lukaku this summer. According to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, Mateta is being considered as a cost-effective alternative to Lukaku.
At four years younger than Lukaku, Mateta shares several attributes with the Belgian striker, making him a suitable fit for Daniele De Rossi’s requirements for a center-forward. Additionally, Mateta is seen as potentially superior on the ball.
Mateta would cost only a fraction of Lukaku’s salary demands, with the report suggesting a potential transfer fee of around £18.5 million to entice Palace this summer—though this amount might seem somewhat undervalued.
Given the significant impact Mateta had last season under Glasner, it’s not surprising to see him drawing interest, including from Napoli earlier in the summer. The Eagles should be cautious about selling him for such a low fee, as his value may be higher given his recent performances.
Palace should resist selling Mateta. Given his impressive run of form, with nine goals in the final six games of last season, it’s surprising they would consider a relatively low fee for a player who cost them £9 million and had previously struggled until Glasner’s arrival transformed him into a prolific scorer.
Now representing France at the Olympics, Mateta’s rapid rise and newfound status as a goal-scorer underscore his value. If his recent form is sustainable, the Eagles should hold out for a better offer rather than accepting Roma’s reported fee.