Jean-Philippe Mateta’s long-term future at Crystal Palace remains uncertain with negotiations over a new contract believed to have stalled.
The France international has become one of the most impressive strikers in the Premier League under the leadership of manager Oliver Glasner, whose own future is also unclear as his current deal expires at the end of the campaign.
After initially joining Palace on an 18-month loan from Bundesliga outfit Mainz in January 2021, Mateta has thrived following Glasner’s arrival three years later.
In his first two seasons under the guidance of the former Frankfurt and Wolfsburg coach, the forward scored 36 goals in all competitions, playing a key role in the club lifting the FA Cup in 2024-25.
And Mateta has carried on his strong form from the last two seasons, scoring nine goals in all competitions so far this term. The 28-year-old has netted seven times in the league, making him joint-third top scorer behind Manchester City star Erling Haaland (14) and Brentford striker Igor Thiago (11), with Brighton attacker Danny Welbeck also on seven goals.
Report suggests France striker is not rushing into a new deal:
However, while Mateta continues to shine in south London, he is also being linked with a departure as he edges closer to the end of his current contract, which runs out in 2027. And according to the BBC, talks between the former Lyon forward and Palace have reportedly hit a standstill.
The report indicates that while encouraging discussions initially took place earlier this year, Mateta is now in no hurry to tie down his long-term future to Palace. Having broken into the France squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup, it is understood Palace’s No. 14 wants to assess his alternatives after next summer’s tournament in North America.
While negotiations are believed to be ongoing, the report concludes by saying several European clubs have shown interest in Mateta, including Serie A side Atalanta, who are competing in this season’s Champions League. Raffaele Palladino’s team are currently 11th in the Italian top division, while they also sit 10th in the Champions League standings.