Crystal Palace’s response to Jean-Philippe Mateta transfer request revealed
Crystal Palace remain hopeful of keeping Jean-Philippe Mateta beyond the end of the January transfer window despite his formal transfer request.
Mateta has asked to leave Crystal Palace amid growing frustrations at the direction of the club after Oliver Glasner announced his imminent departure.
As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Transfer insider podcast, Palace would prefer to sell in the summer, when they will be better-placed to land a replacement.
If they can persuade Mateta to stay until the end of the season, they will open the door to his departure in the next window, having already rebuffed offers this month.
The Eagles rejected a loan offer with an obligation to buy from Juventus which didn’t suit their demands, and Aston Villa have since expressed their interest.
Crystal Palace hope to prevent Jean-Philippe Mateta exit
Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider on 7 January that Crystal Palace would block Mateta’s exit despite interest from Man United.
While the Red Devils are not among those who have made a move, there is a feeling they could join a number of clubs in the race for the striker in the summer.
Delaying his exit beyond the end of the January window may yet prove beneficial both for Palace and Mateta, but he is keen to move on as soon as possible.
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “Look, it’s a difficult one for Crystal Palace right now, they’ve had so much upheaval in the last couple of weeks.
“Oliver Glasner has confirmed he is set to leave, Marc Guehi has moved on to Man City, and now Mateta has told the club he wants to leave.
“They don’t want to let him go in January, the squad is being decimated right now, but Palace will have to weigh up everything, because he is in the final 18 months of his contract.
“They’ve turned down a loan with an obligation to buy from Juventus, that didn’t suit Crystal Palace, and now Aston Villa are seeing if there’s a deal to be done.
“I think Palace will do everything they can to try keep hold of the player and then they’ll have to reassess the situation in the summer.
“It looks more and more likely that Mateta will leave Palace, but they will try to persuade him to stay until the summer and then they will open the door in the summer.
“That will allow more clubs the opportunity to come in and sign Mateta, and will also give Palace more time to bring in a replacement.
“It’s going to rumble on between now and the end of the transfer window, but with everything going on at Palace, they can’t afford to let their top goalscorer leave.”
Crystal Palace step up efforts to sign Mateta replacement
With Mateta now expected to leave Palace, whether it happens in the January transfer window or in the summer, they are accelerating efforts to land a replacement.
Football Insider exclusively revealed on 21 January that Crystal Palace have approached Derby over Patrick Agyemang, who is among their targets.
The Eagles may make the first move for Agyemang if Mateta leaves in the next few days, with Derby valuing the 25-year-old at around the £20million mark.
Agyemang only joined Derby last summer from MLS side Charlotte FC, but his performances in the Championship have already caught the attention of top clubs.
Leeds United are also among his admirers as they aim to bolster Daniel Farke’s squad, with interest in his availability growing among Premier League sides.
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