Crystal Palace have no intention of selling Jean-Philippe Mateta despite interest from Aston Villa, although they could be open to a deal involving Evann Guessand.
Unai Emery’s Aston Villa have been on fire this season. Despite an impressive first half, they are still looking for ways to further bolster their squad. The Spanish manager seeks more quality in the final third and has a few names on his wishlist. Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta is one of the names on Aston Villa’s wishlist for the winter transfer window.
But, according to a report from Sky Sports journalists James Savundra and Lyall Thomas, the Eagles have no intentions of selling the French international midway through the 2025/26 season.
After making a name for himself at FSV Mainz, Jean-Philippe Mateta joined Crystal Palace at the start of 2021. While he completed an initial loan move, it was made permanent in the following summer. The Frenchman has only gone from strength to strength over the years, and he has been one of their mainstays in recent seasons.
In the ongoing campaign, the 28-year-old has been involved in 33 matches across competitions and has bagged 10 goals and two assists. His impressive performances have not gone unnoticed, and with his contract running out in less than 18 months, multiple top clubs want to sign him in this window.
Aston Villa want Mateta; Crystal Palace want Guessand in return
Aston Villa are one of the clubs that have entered the race to sign Jean-Philippe Mateta, as Unai Emery wants more firepower in the final third. He feels a proven goalscorer like the Frenchman could do wonders for him in both Europe and the Premier League.
However, striking a deal with the Eagles won’t be easy, as they are not actively looking to sell him. It would require a significant financial effort to tempt Crystal Palace to sell one of their most important players mid-season.
As per a report from The Athletic, the Eagles could consider allowing Mateta to move to Aston Villa Park if Evann Guessand ends up joining them in a swap deal. While the Ivorian international has not settled in at his new club, Palace are still keen on having him on their bench.
Crystal Palace see Guessand as a great signing for the long run, and they won’t mind allowing Jean-Philippe Mateta to join a rival club if they end up getting their hands on the 24-year-old Ivorian winger. Since the Eagles value their 28-year-old striker at €40 million, even a swap deal would involve a significant fee. As things stand, a potential transfer looks very difficult.
