Jean-Philippe Mateta celebrates scoring for Crystal Palace in opposition to Man Utd (Photograph by Carl Recine/Getty Photos)
Barcelona are reportedly contemplating a shock switch transfer for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta for this summer season.
The Frenchman has been in high quality kind for the Eagles within the final 12 months or so, although he’s not essentially somebody you’d anticipate to be seeing linked with the very greatest names in European membership soccer.
Nonetheless, it appears Barca now have Mateta on their checklist for subsequent season as they appear in want of a substitute for the ageing Robert Lewandowski, in keeping with a report from Spanish outlet Fichajes.
Mateta has confirmed to be one thing of a late bloomer within the recreation, and it could be that he may make an impression at an enormous membership like Barcelona, even when solely as a squad participant.
After 32 objectives in his final 67 video games for Palace, one imagines there may very well be a number of different massive golf equipment who’re severely beginning to take into account Mateta as properly.
Jean-Philippe Mateta switch may very well be one other fear for Crystal Palace
Palace aren’t having the perfect season, so it may very well be that they’ll be susceptible to dropping a few of their finest gamers in the summertime.
Mateta will certainly be one they’ve to fret about, whereas others to look at may very well be Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi and Adam Wharton.
The Eagles must do their finest to maintain this squad collectively if they’re to bounce again and develop correctly underneath Oliver Glasner, however it’s going to absolutely be very tough when the likes of Barcelona come calling.
Mateta might be having fun with his soccer in the meanwhile, however the likelihood to maneuver to the Nou Camp is the dream of many younger footballers, and the chance may not current itself once more.
It is going to be attention-grabbing to see if Palace can maintain Mateta and different star names this summer season, or in the event that they settle for it’s time to maneuver them on and rebuild their squad.
