French-DR Congo centre-forward Jean-Philippe Mateta of Crystal Palace is being linked with a summer move to Turkish giants Besiktas, with his long-term future at Selhurst Park increasingly uncertain.
The 28-year-old, who was born in Sevran and stands at 1.92m, is reportedly on the radar of the Istanbul club as they seek to bolster their attack for next season’s Süper Lig campaign. The transfer speculation comes with the probability of the move currently listed only as “?”, underlining that talks are at an early and uncertain stage.
Mateta’s contractual situation at Palace is unclear, with no public end date recorded, raising the prospect that he could move on if the London club choose to cash in or, in time, allow him to leave as a free agent if no extension is agreed. His current market value is estimated at €30.00m, a figure that would make any permanent transfer a significant outlay for Besiktas unless Palace soften their stance or his deal runs down.
The right-footed centre-forward, who has French and DR Congo nationality, has become a focal point of Palace’s attack in recent seasons, leading the line in the Premier League. Most recently, he featured for Crystal Palace in a league fixture against Premier League opposition before this latest round of rumours surfaced, playing as a central striker in a match that underlined his physical presence and penalty-box instincts, although detailed statistics from that game are not included in the available data.
With experience in one of Europe’s top leagues and a profile suited to a target-man role, a move to Besiktas would offer Mateta the chance to become a marquee name in Istanbul. Should the transfer materialise, it could mark a pivotal stage in his career trajectory, shaping his reputation beyond England and potentially positioning him as a leading figure in the Süper Lig.
