Crystal Palace have drawn a clear line in the sand over the future of Jean-Philippe Mateta, resisting Nottingham Forest’s opening approach and insisting the striker will not be sold below their valuation.
Forest submitted a £35m bid for the France international of Congolese descent on Monday as they look to bolster their attacking options ahead of the new season.
However, Palace are understood to have rejected the offer, with the club holding out for a fee closer to £40m before they would even consider parting ways with one of their key forwards.
Palace’s stance reflects Mateta’s growing importance at Selhurst Park, where he has become a central figure in the attack and a reliable source of goals.
According to the Daily Mail, the south London club have no intention of being pressured into a cut-price deal, particularly this late in the window, and remain prepared to keep the striker unless their terms are met.
Interest in Mateta is not limited to the Premier League. Italian heavyweights AC Milan and Juventus are also monitoring his situation, although both clubs are reportedly exploring loan-to-buy structures rather than a straight cash purchase. That approach falls well short of Palace’s preference for an outright sale at full value.
Even if Forest were to meet Palace’s £40m asking price, a move to the City Ground is far from guaranteed. Mateta has made it clear to Palace that, should he leave, his preferred destination would be Juventus.
