'Deal Agreed': Crystal Palace forward chooses new club as Celtic out of transfer race

Crystal Palace are expecting a busy end to the January transfer window with both outgoings and incomings at Selhurst Park before the market slams shut at 7 pm on Monday.

All eyes remain fixed on talisman Jean-Philippe Mateta, who is keen to move away from South London amid interest from Nottingham Forest and AC Milan. The Eagles have received multiple bids for the 28-year-old, who has eight top flight goals this season.

Any departure for Mateta will only be given the green light if Crystal Palace find a suitable replacement. Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen had emerged as the most likely candidate this week with a £50 million fee touted.

Celtic and Swansea City handed transfer blow

There are a couple of lower key exits also in the works at Selhurst Park and one of those is for winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi. The 23-year-old had been on loan at Turkish side Caykur Rizespor this season but was recalled this month,

The forward is a product of the Crystal Palace academy but has never really made an impact on the first team with just 10 goalless appearances to his name. Rak-Sakyi has enjoyed loan spells at Charlton Athletic and Sheffield United in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns respectively.

Celtic had been frequently credited with interest in Rak-Sakyi this month, with Championship outfit Swansea City also appearing to be frontrunners at one stage. It is, however, Stoke City who have won the transfer race.

Stoke City set to sign Crystal Palace forward

Taking to social media platform X on Friday, journalist Joe Krishnan reported: “Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi has decided to join Stoke City on loan with an obligation to buy. Potters are aware of his knee issue but are willing to take risk to sign the 23yo. I’m told there was late interest from Monaco, but JRS already chose Stoke.

“Several Turkish teams were keen on Rak-Sakyi after his bright start to life at Rizespor, where he scored 4 goals in 11 games Palace recalled him hoping to negotiate a permanent sale, and this deal allows Rak-Sakyi to finally move on after seven years with the club.”

Football Insider had claimed earlier this month that Swansea City agreed a deal to sign the player from Crystal Palace but that the move had fallen through with Rak-Sakyi unconvinced with the move to South Wales. Coventry City had also been linked with the player but instead ended up signing Romain Esse on loan from the Eagles.

In other news, Sky Sports: Crystal Palace receive new Jean-Philippe Mateta bid - but it's not from Nottingham Forest.