CRYSTAL Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta is reportedly a target for Premier League rivals Aston Villa.
Mateta, 27, enjoyed a prolific end to the season for Oliver Glasner’s side, scoring fourteen goals in his last sixteen games, including a hat-trick on the final day in a 5-0 win over Villa that secured a top-half Premier League finish.
He scored sixteen league goals in 2023-24 but Palace have yet to agree an extension on his contract, which runs until the summer of 2026.
Mateta is currently at the Olympics in his home country. He scored his first goal of the Paris Games to help France to a 3-0 win over New Zealand on Tuesday night.
Mateta captained former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry’s side as they secured a quarter-final against Argentina. That match is set to have added attention after the controversy of Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez posting a video of some Argentina players chanting about French players in terms that were called “racist” by the French Football Federation.
Mateta scored the first goal with Desire Doue and Arnaud Kalimuendo adding to the margin of victory.
AS Roma and several other clubs have been credited with an interest in Mateta, who could be tempted by Champions League football.
Glasner had a dramatic impact on Mateta’s form and the forward enjoys working with his Austrian boss.
Mateta was part of a brilliant attacking trio under Glasner. But the Eagles have already seen Michael Olise join Bayern Munich for £60million.
Eberechi Eze has a £60million release clause as Tottenham Hotspur continue to be linked with a move for the England international.
