Tottenham Hotspur have opened talks to sign Crystal Palace centre-forward Jean-Philippe Mateta. Nicolo Schira.
Mateta found himself in the mix of what appears to be a merry-go-round of centre-forwards in the closing days of the winter transfer window. Palace have been linked with several options and have reportedly completed a deal with Wolverhampton Wanderers to sign Jorgen Strand Larsen.
With a year left on Mateta’s contract, the Eagles are still looking for a new striker, with the Frenchman increasingly likely to leave Selhurst Park.
In recent hours, real reports have confirmed that the Eagles have also completed a deal for Aston Villa striker Evann Guessand, further casting Mateta’s future into doubt as a January move looks possible.
Several clubs have been linked with a move for the former Mainz hitman, with Tottenham becoming the latest club to join the race for his signature.
This is according to Nicolo Schirawho claims Spurs have begun talks with Palace to discuss the 28-year-old’s potential move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Spurs are now looking to seal the deal and should an agreement be reached, the journalist believes it will pave the way for Randal Kolo Muani to leave the club this month.
Productive progress
The 6ft tall centre-forward has been one of the most prolific goalscorers not only for Palace but also in the Premier League. His form in front of goal also earned him three caps for France, where he scored twice, putting him firmly in contention for Didier Deschamps’ final Les Bleus squad for the World Cup.
After an excellent 2024/25 season, in which he scored seventeen goals in all competitions, Mateta has continued his form this season, with two assists and ten goals in all competitions, including in the Community Shield final against Liverpool.
In the Premier League, only Erling Haaland (20), Igor Thiago (16), Antoine Semenyo (11) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (9) have scored more goals than Mateta’s eight, underlining why Spurs want to sign him now to lighten their goal-scoring burden.
His aerial ability and physicality would give Thomas Frank a different profile to that of Dominic Solanke and Richarlison, the latter of whom is on the verge of leaving the club.
While Palace are expected to demand a fee in excess of his £34 million Transfer market Given the valuation, Tottenham will have to accelerate efforts to sign him as, according to reports, Nottingham Forest have a concrete interest in his signature.
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