Even after the transfer window closed, Jean-Philippe Mateta is still under contract with Crystal Palace. On Friday, his coach Oliver Glasner commented on the collapsed move to Milan.
When will Crystal Palace finally settle down this season? Coach Oliver Glasner should at least be pleased that the winter transfer window is now closed. The Austrian lost captain Marc Guehi to league rivals Manchester City two and a half weeks ago. Shortly before the transfer window closed, there was also the threat of top striker Jean-Philippe Mateta leaving.
Mateta had informed the club’s management of his desire to leave. Juventus Turin, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest were considered interested parties. However, things really heated up on deadline day with AC Milan. In Paris, Mateta only had to pass the medical examination to sign as Niclas Füllkrug’s new strike partner. But the €30 million did not flow to England. Due to knee problems identified during the medical, Milan decided not to sign him.
“He really wanted to keep playing”
This probably came as no surprise to anyone at Crystal Palace. Glasner made this clear with some remarkable statements: “Mateta had been having knee problems since November. He really wanted to keep playing, so we made it possible.” Since mid-November, the Frenchman has scored only two Premier League goals for Palace, one of which was from the penalty spot. Currently, the former Mainz player has eight goals in 23 league games. Palace removed their striker from the matchday squad for last Sunday’s game at Nottingham due to the impending transfer.
Is Mateta now facing an even longer break? Surgery is also on the cards with regard to next summer’s World Cup. Mateta made his debut for the French national team only last October, but then scored two goals in three international matches.
Mateta could face several months on the sidelines if he undergoes surgery. Then the French World Cup train would likely leave without him. These are difficult decisions that the striker and his club Crystal Palace have to make. “We will conduct further evaluations to find the best solution,” Glasner promised.
Two strikers still arrived
However, the club had already made provisions before Mateta’s medical check fell through. With Evann Guessand (Aston Villa, on loan) and Jörgen Strand Larsen (Wolverhampton), who was responsible for a transfer record with a transfer fee of €50 million, Glasner has two new alternatives for the attack.