Crystal Palace will reportedly look to keep 28-year-old French international Jean-Philippe Mateta at Selhurst Park beyond the winter transfer window.
According to a report by Football Insider, Jean-Philippe Mateta is the subject of interest from Aston Villa. The Villans are keen on bolstering their offensive unit by signing a striker in the winter transfer window. So, the 28-year-old Crystal Palace centre-forward has emerged as a target for the West Midlands outfit.
However, the Eagles are optimistic about keeping the Frenchman at Selhurst Park beyond the winter transfer window. But Aston Villa may no longer be in the race to sign Mateta from Crystal Palace, as they have struck an agreement to sign Tammy Abraham.
How has Jean-Philippe Mateta fared at Crystal Palace?
Jean-Philippe Mateta has established himself as one of the most dependable strikers in the Premier League since joining Crystal Palace from FSV Mainz 05. While the 28-year-old took some time to make his mark at the South London club, Oliver Glasner has transformed him into a top-class centre-forward in the last few years.
The French international has made nearly 200 appearances for Crystal Palace thus far, chipping in with 56 goals and 13 assists. Meanwhile, Mateta’s progress in the last few seasons has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs. Recent reports have linked the Crystal Palace mainstay with Aston Villa, while Juventus also failed with a bid to sign him.
What next for Mateta?
Aston Villa’s interest in Jean-Philippe Mateta is understandable. The Villans have been scouring the market for a striker heading into the winter transfer window, as Unai Emery wants more productivity from his attackers. However, it is unclear whether Mateta remains a target for Aston Villa following the West Midlands club’s agreement to sign Tammy Abraham.
Nevertheless, the Crystal Palace striker has been a target for Aston Villa in recent weeks, and the Eagles have been keen on keeping the 28-year-old Frenchman at Selhurst Park. The latest report has revealed that the 2024/25 FA Cup winners are optimistic about retaining Mateta’s services for the rest of the 2025/26 season.
So, while Mateta has not been a happy camper due to Crystal Palace’s decision to block a January exit, he may remain at Selhurst Park for the second half of the 2025/26 season. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for the French international.