Jean-Philippe Mateta left out by Crystal Palace as future remains uncertain | OneFootball

Jean-Philippe Mateta will not play for Crystal Palace at Nottingham Forest, with Oliver Glasner saying the striker is not in the right place to feature.

Interest has intensified, with a £35million offer from Forest, reported by The Athletic, and Milan working on a deal. The uncertainty has unsettled the 28-year-old before Monday’s seven pm GMT deadline.

Glasner explained that the noise and deadline pressure mean Mateta is not at his best, so it makes no sense to use him. He stressed the omission is not because a transfer is agreed, rather the situation is affecting the player.

Mateta has not submitted a formal transfer request, but this is the closest he has been to leaving since a new contract was proposed before summer 2024. With 18 months left on his deal, a move before the deadline is considered the likeliest outcome.

Palace want a hefty fee and are pursuing Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Jorgen Strand Larsen as a more natural No nine. Aston Villa’s Evann Guessand has arrived on loan with an option to buy, though he is viewed more as a No ten and was not registered in time for Sunday.

Given Palace’s winless run since early December and their proximity to the relegation places, they are reluctant to sell without a replacement. Glasner accepted there is always a risk late in a window, but said the club aim to avoid that scenario.

If Mateta stays, Palace expect his World Cup ambitions to sharpen his focus. His form has dipped to one goal in his past 12 appearances and a knee issue has been managed, yet Glasner believes he can still thrive in south London.

Source: NY Times