Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has been linked with a move away from the London club.
Atletico Madrid are keen on securing his signature and a report from Fichajes claims that they have been told to pay €50 million to sign the player. The 27-year-old has established himself as one of the most reliable attackers in the Premier League and the Eagles are unwilling to lose him cheaply. It is no surprise that they are demanding a premium for the player. It will be interesting to see if Atletico Madrid are ready to pay.
Mateta will be attracted to the idea of joining one of the biggest clubs in Spain, and it would be a major step up in his career. He would get to fight for major trophies and compete in the Champions League regularly. He has shown his quality in the Premier League, and there is no doubt that he has the physical and technical attributes to do well in La Liga.
It will be interesting to see if Atletico Madrid are ready to pay €50 million for him. They will want to sign him for a more reasonable price and the two clubs might have to come to a compromise for the move to go through.
Mateta will want to play for a big club
Meanwhile, the striker is at the peak of his powers and he will want to play for a club capable of trophies. He might feel that this is the right time for him to take the next step in his development. Crystal Palace have a quality side, but they are not at the level required to challenge for major trophies. Atletico Madrid could be the ideal next destination for the player. It will be interesting to see how the situation unfolds over the next few weeks.
The Spanish giants need more quality and depth in the attacking unit and signing the Premier League striker would be a wise decision. He would make an instant impact in Spanish football and transform Atletico Madrid in the attack.
Meanwhile, the 27-year-old will feel that playing alongside top-quality players at the Spanish club will help him improve further. He would also get to work under a world-class manager like Diego Simeone.
