Jean-Philippe Mateta: Crystal Palace must increase offer to convince star striker to sign new contract | OneFootball

Striker’s contract is due to expire in the summer of 2027 and he dreams of playing in the Champions League

Crystal Palace will need to significantly up their offer of a new wage packet for Jean-Philippe Mateta if they are to have any hope of convincing the Frenchman to sign a new contract.

Mateta will be able to leave as a free agent in the summer of 2027 if he and Palace cannot agree on improved terms.

Standard Sport understands Palace have been in dialogue with Mateta as they aim to tie him down to a new contract but talks have reached a sticking point where the Frenchman’s base salary is concerned.

Mateta and his representatives have made no secret of their unwavering ambition for the striker to compete at the highest level in the game, including the Champions League — a sentiment which has only grown since he became a French senior international in October.

Jean-Philippe Mateta is now a senior France international

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Mateta would be 30 when his current contract expires in June 2027, so Palace would need to decide whether to cash in on him while they can in the event that he does not agree to a new deal. There is growing interest in him.

In 172 appearances, he has scored 54 goals for the Eagles and trails only Erling Haaland, Igor Thiago and Danny Welbeck as the Premier League’s joint-fourth top scorer this season.

He is not the only senior player at Palace whose future is up in the air. England centre-back Marc Guehi’s contract expires next summer.