Oliver Glasner rules out Jean-Philippe Mateta for Forest trip amid transfer interest | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest might not land Jean-Philippe Mateta before Monday’s deadline, but they will not face him on Sunday after Oliver Glasner left the Crystal Palace striker out.

According to Nottingham Post, Forest have tracked the 28-year-old for weeks, while AC Milan have entered the race. Several reports claim Milan want a loan until the end of the season and are then prepared to pay £35m to make the move permanent.

Palace are said to want a replacement in before sanctioning any exit. They are close to signing Aston Villa’s Evann Guessand and have held talks over Wolves’ Jorgen Strand Larsen.

Forest have already brought in Lorenzo Lucca on loan and have tabled a £35m offer for Mateta. Glasner said the decision to omit him for the City Ground trip is unrelated to transfers, adding the player does not feel in the right place to play.

The head coach spoke of protecting the team and the player amid heavy noise and speculation. He said Mateta cannot perform at his best if private matters affect his focus, so it is better not to play him, and Palace must prepare in case something happens with the forward.

Source: Nottingham Post