Keith Wyness: Crystal Palace should accept Jean-Philippe Mateta offer
Crystal Palace should have no hesitation cashing in on striker Jean-Philippe Mateta before the end of the January window.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes £40million could be enough for Crystal Palace to sell the 28-year-old.
Nottingham Forest are front-runners to sign Mateta, with Sean Dyche’s side prepared to pay £35million for the France international.
Crystal Palace have been told to change their transfer model, with captain Marc Guehi having joined Man City for £20m earlier in the January window.
Crystal Palace should take the money for Jean-Philippe Mateta
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes Crystal Palace have to “redevelop themselves” amid departures at Selhurst Park.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks the club should not stand in Mateta’s way if he wants to leave.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I think Palace are the sort of club that will do that rebuild and have to, you know, redevelop themselves again.
“So they’ve got a chance to do it, they’ve got rich talent, they’ve done it before. One of these days it isn’t going to work, but certainly at that sort of level, if they get £40 million for Mateta right now, I think they should take it, move on and rebuild as best they can.
“And at some stage they’re going to have to hang on to some talent, but maybe not this season is the right one to do it.”
Crystal Palace line up new striker
Crystal Palace could pursue Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen regardless of whether they sell Mateta in a bid to add extra firepower to their attack.
The Eagles have scored just 24 goals in 23 Premier League games this season, with Mateta their top scorer on eight.
No player has scored more than three times in the Premier League than Mateta, with fellow striker Eddie Nketiah having only netted twice this season.