Aston Villa make offer for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta | OneFootball

Aston Villa have made an offer for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. The bid fell well short of Palace's valuation, and the club expect a far higher proposal to sanction his departure.

According to The Athletic, Mateta disputed the final year of a deal due to expire next summer after Palace activated a one-year option last December, taking the case to the Premier League. The outcome was not made public, but the report said an independent tribunal ruled earlier this year that the contract remained valid.

The 29-year-old was close to joining Milan in the winter window for €30 million, before the Italian club withdrew over concerns about a knee injury.

He was reintegrated after the window and scored the winner in May's Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano, as Palace won their first European trophy. He finished last season with 50 appearances and 16 goals in all competitions.

Villa are seeking attacking reinforcements with Ollie Watkins' future unclear and Tammy Abraham and Brian Madjo sidelined by injury. They have lodged an indicative offer for AC Milan forward Rafael Leao and also targeted Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson, having considered Mateta in January.

Watkins has made clear his desire to leave, with Villa rejecting four bids from Al Hilal, the latest worth £45 million.

Emiliano Martinez and Watkins did not feature in Sunday's opening-day four-goal loss at Brighton & Hove Albion, with Watkins later apologising to his team-mates. Villa have added six players, signing Zion Suzuki, Matteo Ruggeri, Joao Gomes and Johan Manzambi, and taking Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Alejandro Garnacho on loan.

Source: NY Times

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