- Mateta contract set to expire this Summer
- Palace hierarchy not considering new deal
- Mateta motivated to make World Cup squad
Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has had a turbulent season to say the least. A struggling start to the campaign saw him miss numerous chances before a knee injury kept him out of action.
Amidst that injury, an attempt to force a January move to AC Milan fell through when Mateta failed a medical at the Italian club. With his contract set to expire in the Summer, the last window was the final opportunity for Palace to cash in on the Frenchman.
At one point it appeared that his reputation and relationship with the Palace fanbase was damaged beyond any point of return. However, in his last three games he’s scored three goals, including a brace in Palace’s dramatic win over Newcastle in their last league outing.
Palace Hierarchy Holding a Grudge?
With Mateta’s recent upturn in form, which will undoubtedly be driven by his motivation to be selected for the French World Cup squad, it is perhaps surprising that the news coming from the club suggests there are no plans at all to offer him a new deal.
Hugo Ekitke suffered an injury which will rule him out of the World Cup squad as Liverpool lost to Paris Saint-Germain, which opens up a position for Mateta to push for.
His recent performances have been a huge benefit to Palace and Glasner, who will not mind having two strong striking options as they approach a congested end to the season.
There are currently no plans to offer Mateta the chance to extend his stay in South London, with the club hierarchy reportedly unwilling to re-enter negotiations after Mateta turned down previous chances to sign new deals.
A report from Alan Nixon on his Patreon claims that Palace are now ready to accept around £20m for the striker. That means they are prepared to drop their £30m valuation, which Milan agreed to pay in January.
There may well be some underlying feelings against Mateta due to the way he tried to leave. Whilst the fans seemingly have forgiven him, the hierarchy at the club may still be holding some frustration with him.
Of course, there is no guarantee that Mateta would even want to sign a new deal. He made his intentions to leave clear, and at 28 years old, the time for him to make a final big move is running out.
Glasner Heaps Praise on Mateta
In his pre-West Ham press conference, Glasner was asked about Mateta. His response suggested that Mateta’s public image may be slightly misunderstood.
“Everyboy likes him because he’s funny, but he’s always working very hard.”
That is certainly the character that the Palace fans see, waving his arms to encourage the fans, tucking his shirt in and even putting his boom celebration on hold amidst contract negotiations. However, Glasner pulled back the curtain on what JP is like behind closed doors.
“He’s so professional. He’s always the first one coming in in the morning. Then most of the time, he’s the last one leaving. Sometimes he’s two hours on the bed taking a massage.”
Mateta is clearly motivated to end the season successfully with Palace, and if that success comes, the club’s stance on his contract and future may well change.
