Crystal Palace eyeing ‘very good’ Leicester City star amid Philippe Mateta exit talks

Crystal Palace are looking at Leicester’s Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho as a possible replacement to Jean-Philippe Mateta.

The French forward is attracting interest from clubs in Italy, Spain and Germany with his future up in the air ahead of transfer deadline day next Friday.

Mannegr Roy Hodgson is in the market for new striker after losing Wilfried Zaha to Galatasaray but his need for a forward has been amplified by Mateta’s thirst for new challenge after an underhwelming last two years with the Eagles.

According to the Evening Stanadard, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are interested in Mateta with a move likely to happen before the window shuts.

Leicester value Nigerian Iheanacho massively as they look for a swift return to the Premier League follwoing their relegation to the Championship last seaosn, but they could be forced top sell if the fee is right.

Matata failed to make Palace’s squad for the 1-0 defeat at home to Arsenal on Monday night as reports of his exit continue to dominate the headlines in south London.

The Palace boss bemoaned the lack of signings and pressing need to add to the squad before the close of the transfer window: He said earlier in the summer: “We’ve lost five senior players from last season and brought one in–Jefferson Lerma; he’s good and we’re happy to have him in – but there is still that hole of five senior players in the squad, two of whom were two of the real stars of the team.

“There’s a bit of work for the chairman and sporting director to do between now and the end of August, because the team we put out today was in our opinion, at this moment in time, our best team, but we don’t have the strength behind that team that we had last year.”

The Eagles will hope they get back to winning ways when they travel to Brentford this weekend in the league.