Aston Villa interested in Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta following contract dispute with the Eagles | OneFootball

Aston Villa are reportedly among the clubs interested in signing Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta (29), according to the BBC.

With the future of their striker Ollie Watkins (30) – who is being closely tracked by Saudi club Al-Hilal – remaining uncertain, the Villans are said to have identified the Frenchman as his potential successor. The Eagles, for their part, may be forced to consider the offers that land on their board’s desk in the coming days, as their relationship with Mateta appears to be drawing to a close.

And with one year remaining on his contract – the validity of which the 29-year-old has sought – unsuccessfully – to challenge by taking his case to an independent Premier League tribunal and a FIFA hearing – it is clear that a sale of the forward before the deadline day would certainly represent Palace’s last opportunity to capitalise on a potential transfer.

Having already come close to leaving the London club last winter, but ultimately kept on after failing his medical at AC Milan, Mateta could yet be involved in one of the final major deals of the English summer transfer window.

GFFN | Léo Aschi