Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta price tag revealed after Aston Villa bid
Crystal Palace will demand a fee of £25million to sell Jean-Philippe Mateta in the window's closing stages, sources have told Football Insider.
This comes after Aston Villa made a formal bid for the 29-year-old which fell below Palace's valuation and was quickly dismissed, but they are expected to return.
The France international is widely expected to leave Selhurst Park this summer after a dispute over the validity of his contract made headlines in recent days.
Mateta came close to joining AC Milan in the January transfer window, but the move fell through on deadline day after he failed a medical in Italy.
Milan were willing to part with a fee of around £25million for the striker, and Palace are using that fee as the benchmark, although they could be open to negotiations given his desire to leave.
Mateta has just one year remaining on his current contract at Selhurst Park, placing a number of clubs on high alert ahead of the 1 September transfer deadline.
Could Aston Villa agree a deal for Jean-Philippe Mateta?
Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider on 25 August that Crystal Palace are prepared to accept offers for Mateta, but any deal will be on their terms.
The Eagles are also content to allow the striker to run down his contract and leave on a free transfer next summer, in exchange for another year of him leading the line.
However, that eventuality is becoming increasingly unlikely in the late stages of the summer transfer window, with the France international pushing for a move away.
Mateta's discontent at Crystal Palace comes as he aims to play in the Champions League, following his inclusion for France at the World Cup.
Despite having played a key role in Palace lifting the FA Cup and Conference League, he has his eyes set on a move away, with Villa now leading the race.
Aston Villa's interest comes as they prepare for Ollie Watkins to move on, while Mateta has been a long-term target for Unai Emery and his side.
Which other clubs are interested in signing Mateta?
Aston Villa are the first club to have made a formal approach for Mateta this summer, but are far from the only side to have shown an interest in his complicated situation.
A number of Premier League clubs are being kept informed on the striker's availability, while many have been approached by the player's entourage in recent days.
Football Insider revealed on 24 August that Tottenham are among the clubs keeping a close eye on Mateta's situation in case he is allowed to leave Crystal Palace this summer.
Roberto De Zerbi is keen to improve his attacking options following the signing of Savinho, while Spurs have been long-term admirers of the France international.
Whether they make a late move or not remains to be seen, but with the growing expectation that Mateta could leave Selhurst Park, they could now be tempted.