Atlético Madrid ‘to consider’ Jean-Philippe Mateta at £25 million | OneFootball

According to La Colina De Nervion, Atlético Madrid have joined the chase for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, with a deal said to be possible at around £25 million as he enters the final season of his contract.

He turned 29 on 28 June and is tied to Palace until 30 June 2027. If he does not renew in the coming months, his price is expected to slide towards January. Palace are currently working off a valuation close to €30 million, broadly in line with that level.

In January, AC Milan agreed a package near £30 million and Mateta passed a medical before the Italians walked away. Nottingham Forest offered about £35 million, rejected as they are a Premier League rival. The current number sits £5 million to £10 million lower than those winter figures.

On 15 July, Palace tabled an extension through 2030. If signed, leverage would swing back to the London club and any cut-price route would close. That price should be viewed as a window created by the present contract timeline.

Mateta, 1.92 metres tall, offers a ready-made, physical focal point for Diego Simeone. He pins centre-backs, protects the ball and attacks the box, a more imposing profile than a mobile forward such as Julián Álvarez. Any outlay only makes sense if Atlético see him playing major minutes immediately.

Much will hinge on who moves first. A renewal would remove the opportunity, while a faster bid from Turin or Manchester could take it out of Atlético’s hands.

Source: La Colina De Nervion