Frustrated Mateta's Milan Move Delayed as Palace Hunt Replacement
Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has publicly expressed his frustration after his anticipated transfer to Italian giants AC Milan was unexpectedly delayed over the weekend. The 28-year-old French forward, who is currently Palace's top scorer this season, was poised to complete a move to Serie A but has been left waiting as his current club seeks to secure a suitable replacement before sanctioning his departure.
Social Media Frustration and Medical Hold-Up
Mateta took to his Instagram account, which boasts approximately 300,000 followers, on Saturday night to share a clearly frustrated emoji, reflecting his disappointment at the stalled proceedings. The striker had been expecting to travel from London to Italy to undergo a medical examination ahead of signing what was understood to be a three-and-a-half-year contract with the historic Milanese club. Personal terms between Mateta and AC Milan had already been successfully agreed upon, leaving the final hurdle as Crystal Palace's requirement to bring in attacking reinforcement.
Palace's Replacement Search and Strand Larsen Complications
The south London club, currently positioned 15th in the Premier League table, are actively working to sign a new striker before Monday's transfer deadline. Their primary target appears to be Wolverhampton Wanderers' forward Jorgen Strand Larsen. However, negotiations have encountered complications regarding the payment structure of a proposed deal worth £45 million upfront, with an additional £5 million in potential add-ons. This financial sticking point has contributed to the delay in finalising Mateta's exit.
Glasner Confirms Mateta's Absence and Squad Protection
Palace manager Oliver Glasner confirmed on Friday that Mateta would not be included in the squad travelling to face Nottingham Forest in Sunday's Premier League fixture. Glasner, who has already announced his intention to leave the club at the season's end, explained the decision was made to protect both the player and the team amidst the intense speculation surrounding his future.
"It is nothing to do right now with the transfers. He is not in the [right] place," stated Glasner. "To play makes no sense. We have to protect the team and I have to protect him. That is why he will not travel with us to Nottingham. Again, there is so much noise, so much speculation, so many things going on."
The Austrian manager elaborated further, highlighting how the transfer uncertainty was affecting Mateta's focus and performance levels. "We need every single player at their best and JP [Mateta] isn't at his best right now with all the noise that happens. It can be football noise, but if someone has private issues where they can't focus on football, then it makes no sense to play. He can't help the team and perform at his top level. We decided it is better not to play him."
Post-Guehi Departure and Deadline Day Preparations
This transfer window has already seen Crystal Palace sell their former captain, defender Marc Guehi, to Manchester City. The club has yet to secure a replacement for Guehi, adding to the pressure on their recruitment team. Glasner acknowledged the challenges of the January market but expressed confidence in the club's efforts.
"Marc [Guehi] left two weeks ago and nobody is in. You can imagine it is not so easy - every team wants to play a successful season, so it is not so easy that you can get the players at the end of January," Glasner noted. "I see the club working hard to get players in to replace Marc and, of course, we have to prepare if something happens with JP [Mateta]."
The manager outlined the two possible scenarios facing the club as the transfer deadline approaches. "To be clear, it can be that Mateta stays, and he is a Palace player on February 2, and it can be that Mateta has left the club and a new striker is in. These are the two situations we are talking about and discussing right now." Glasner confirmed that the club continues to pursue Strand Larsen while preparing for all eventualities regarding their star striker's immediate future.
