Crystal Palace could be left with little leverage if Jean-Philippe Mateta pushes for a move to a Champions League side.
That is the view of football finance expert Dr Dan Plumley, who has told Football Insider that Crystal Palace may be at risk of losing another key figure from their squad.
Mateta harbours ambitions of competing in the Champions League, and the French forward may prove difficult to persuade to remain at Selhurst Park.
Negotiations between Mateta and Crystal Palace have reached an impasse, with the 28-year-old’s contract set to run until 2027.
Crystal Palace ‘can’t compete with Champions League wages’:
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Plumley explained that Crystal Palace would struggle to match the salaries on offer at Champions League clubs.
“If that player is dead set on the Champions League, he isn’t going to get that with Crystal Palace right now,” Plumley stated.
“And if, you know, if he has got demands that, again, Palace are not prepared to meet, or, you know, if he’s catching the attention of Champions League clubs, we know they’ll be able to give him more money.
“And, again, that is the kind of reality of where Crystal Palace are at. I don’t mean that in a bad way.
“I think there’s a lot to be said for being a stable Premier League club at the minute, but it is tough without your best players.
“And, of course, you know, we saw [Eberechi] Eze in the summer. We will be talking about Marc Guehi again in January and now Mateta as well. But, yeah, Palace can’t compete with Champions League wages. It’s just not feasible.”
Crystal Palace star in contract talks:
Crystal Palace are facing the possibility of losing manager Oliver Glasner and defender Marc Guehi, with both contracts due to expire at the end of the season.
Midfielder Daichi Kamada is currently in discussions over a new deal at Selhurst Park in a bid to prevent him from potentially departing on a free transfer.
Should Glasner commit to fresh terms at Crystal Palace, the Austrian coach would be eager to retain the club’s top players.