Crystal Palace ready Jean-Philippe Mateta deal amid £40m transfer news
Crystal Palace look to be making plans to replace Jean-Philippe Mateta ahead of January as Wolves’ Jorgen Strand Larsen is linked with a move to Selhurst Park.
Mateta was at the forefront of Crystal Palace’s success last season as they ended a long wait for major silverware by winning the FA Cup against Man City in May.
An impressive 17 goals in 46 appearances saw him attract transfer attention in the summer as Football Insider‘s sources revealed that Man United had Mateta on their list of striker targets.
Football Insider‘s sources also revealed ahead of this season that Palace were in talks with Mateta about signing a new contract, with his current deal set to end in 2027, but fresh terms are yet to be reached.
Mateta has continued to shine as his contract saga drags on, with seven goals in 17 Premier League games this season, but the Eagles may well be preparing for him to leave soon as they eye a move for Strand Larsen.
Palace are interested in Strand Larsen amid Wolves’ struggles
Strand Larsen has been unable to replicate his fine form at Wolves from last season in 2025-26, with just three goals in 18 appearances so far.
Wolves demanded close to £60million to sell Strand Larsen in the summer after he netted 14 times in 38 games last term, as Newcastle saw a £55m bid for his services rejected after initially trying to sign him for £50m.
According to a new report from The Telegraph, Palace are ready to join West Ham in the race to sign the Norway international in January as they line up a move for a new striker.
They are believed to be waiting to see if Wolves make their high-profile stars available to sign next month if they feel relegation to the Championship is as inevitable as it seems right now, with Joao Gomes also a target for the Eagles.
Strand Larsen only signed a new contract at Molineux in September, so despite his downturn in form, Wolves are set to demand £40million for his services in January [The Guardian].
Strand Larsen’s arrival could see Mateta depart
Palace are not exactly blessed with numerous forward options, and Mateta is still their first-choice striker despite Eddie Nketiah’s improved performances so far this season.
With that said, his reluctance to sign a new deal at Selhurst Park and their new interest in Strand Larsen does point to the possibility of the Frenchman leaving next month for pastures new.
The potential finances involved in signing the Wolves man surely mean that Palace will need to sell a big-name star soon to make a deal happen, and he does have the pedigree to replicate what Mateta has done in South London even if he is not in great form right now.
Football Insider recently revealed that Palace could be forced to sell Mateta with contract talks remain unresolved, and with Tottenham believed to be interested in his services, a January exit could well materialise with Strand Larsen heading to Selhurst Park.