Jean-Philippe Mateta next club: New favourite installed in race to sign Crystal Palace star
Jean-Philippe Mateta could be a Nottingham Forest player soon after they surged to the top of the latest bookmakers’ odds to sign him from Crystal Palace.
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 Palace were in talks with Mateta about signing a new contract, with his current deal set to end in 2027.
They failed to agree new terms, and Mateta has asked to leave Palace this month for pastures new, with Marc Guehi already departing for Man City and Oliver Glasner due to make an exit in the summer.
Aston Villa have been the favourites to sign Mateta over the last few weeks, but Forest are now leading the race for his signature after significant new developments.
Forest now the odds-on favourites to be Mateta’s club after January window
Mateta’s form in front of goal has slowed down somewhat this season, but he has still netted 10 goals in 34 appearances so far and represents an attractive option to teams in desperate need of attacking firepower.
Forest are certainly one of those, as they hover precariously above the Premier League relegation zone right now in 17th, following a run of two wins in their last seven league games.
A desire to sign a new striker has seen Forest launch an ambitious £35million bid to sign Mateta before the 2 February deadline next week.
Palace are reportedly ready to accept that amount to sell Mateta, and so Dyche’s side have emerged as 8/13 odds-on favourites to be his next club, according to one of the UK’s top bookies.
Who else is in the running to sign Mateta right now?
Sources have told Football Insider that Villa are set to end their interest in Mateta after moving to re-sign Tammy Abraham from Besiktas to compete for minutes with Ollie Watkins.
The Villans remain a leading contender in the odds to land the France international, as the second-favourite at 7/4.
Juventus are also believed to be in the running for his services, at odds of 10/3, while another Premier League club, Tottenham, is the fourth-favourite at odds of 7/2.