Nottingham Forest Makes £35m Bid for Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta
Nottingham Forest has made a substantial bid of £35 million (approximately $48 million) to acquire Jean-Philippe Mateta from Crystal Palace. The 28-year-old French striker has emerged as a key target for Forest. However, Crystal Palace values Mateta closer to £40 million (around $54.8 million) and is poised to entertain offers only if they can find a suitable replacement.
Transfer Details and Market Interest
Mateta has attracted interest from multiple clubs during the current winter transfer window. Sources indicate that Aston Villa has also shown a willingness to pursue the player. Nevertheless, Palace is considering a move for Villa forward Evann Guessand as part of potential negotiations.
Additionally, Serie A club Juventus inquired about Mateta but deemed the asking price too high. Their assessment was influenced by Mateta’s age and the remaining year and a half of his contract with Palace.
Mateta’s Performance and Availability
This season, Mateta has participated in all 23 Premier League matches for Crystal Palace, finding the net eight times. However, his scoring has tapered off recently, with just two goals in his last 11 league appearances.
Nottingham Forest’s Striker Situation
- Chris Wood, Forest’s top scorer, has been limited to only eight league appearances due to a knee injury.
- Arnaud Kalimuendo left for Eintracht Frankfurt on loan after joining Forest for £26 million from Rennes.
- Forest recently secured striker Lorenzo Lucca on loan from Napoli, with a potential permanent deal set at about €40 million.
Despite recent performances from strikers Igor Jesus and Taiwo Awoniyi, who scored in a critical 2-0 victory over Brentford, Forest still ranks near the bottom for goals scored this season. With 23 goals, they boast the second-lowest tally in the Premier League, just ahead of Wolverhampton Wanderers, who have only scored 15 times.
Implications of Mateta’s Potential Transfer
A transfer of Mateta would mark another notable exit for Crystal Palace, following the recent departure of club captain Marc Guehi to Manchester City for around £20 million. Manager Oliver Glasner has stated that Mateta has not requested a transfer, clarifying that the player will remain unless the team secures a viable replacement.
Upcoming Matchup
Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace are set to face off in a Premier League match on Sunday, amidst growing tensions between the two clubs over recent transfer situations. This rivalry deepened when Forest replaced Palace in the Europa League after a ruling by UEFA concerning ownership rules.
As Nottingham Forest continues its pursuit of Mateta, his arrival could play a crucial role in enhancing the team’s chances for Premier League survival this season.
