Man United Chelsea and Newcastle all keeping close eye on £9m Crystal Palace player amid contract doubts.
TBR Football understand Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle are among a host of clubs monitoring Crystal Palace No.14 Jean-Philippe Mateta.
The Frenchman has been a sensation in the Premier League ever since Oliver Glasner replaced Roy Hodgson back in February 2024 – scoring 26 goals in 41 appearances under the Austrian.
In fact, only Erling Haaland, Alexander Isak, Cole Palmer and Mohamed Salah have outscored the Crystal Palace No.14 in that space of time on these shores.
However, there are doubts over the 27-year-old’s future at Selhurst Park, which TBR Football understand has alerted Manchester United and Chelsea, along with Newcastle and others.
Manchester United and Chelsea among several clubs monitoring Jean-Philippe Mateta
Graeme Bailey – Chief Correspondent at TBR Football – has now been told that seven Premier League clubs in total are keeping a close eye on the striker.
Jean-Philippe Mateta is yet to sign a new deal at Crystal Palace, and his contract was due to expire in less than 18 months before the Eagles recently triggered a 12-month extension, keeping him tied down until June 2027.
However, that was a contract option all parties agreed when the Olympic Games silver medalist initially joined Crystal Palace in a £9m move from FC Mainz 05 back in January 2022, and the south Londoners are still trying to convince the talismanic figure to sign a proper new deal.
Jean-Philippe Mateta of Crystal Palace celebrates after winning the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Crystal Palace FC at Old …
Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images
In the meantime, TBR Football understand West Ham, Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest are keeping tabs on the situation along with Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle.
A host of European giants are also looking at Mateta – who Thomas Frank praised recently.
Sources add that Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and Marseille are all believed to be paying close attention to the situation.
TBR Football understand Chelsea also like Marc Guehi – another player Crystal Palace are yet to tie down to a new contract.
What Thierry Henry has previously said about Jean-Philippe Mateta
As aforesaid, Mateta owns an Olympic silver medal, which he won while playing for France under Thierry Henry last summer.
The Manchester United and Chelsea target impressively scored five goals in six appearances at the Olympic Games, earning praise from the Arsenal legend as a result.
Henry said: “He’s an old-fashioned striker, you can play a little more direct. He can keep the ball. He’s a boring striker to play against, he doesn’t lose the ball much, and he goes at the last defender. He uses his physicality, he’s good with his head, and he scores.
“It’s important that a striker like that gives you another dimension. He was also voted Player of the Year at Crystal Palace. It seems to me that he’s not too bad.”
