Crystal Palace make 'contract U-turn' amid Man Utd, Newcastle and Tottenham interest in Jean-Philippe Mateta

Crystal Palace have held talks with talisman Jean-Philippe Mateta over a contract extension at Selhurst Park despite reports that the club would not work on a new deal before the January transfer window.

Sky Sports reports that talks between the player and south London outfit are underway but that there is no agreement as of yet. Crystal Palace are said to be ‘calm’ about the situation with Mateta’s current deal still having more than 18 months left to run.

It’s added that the Eagles are aware of growing transfer interest in Mateta, who has scored six goals in 11 fixtures so far this season. The striker has also recently broken into the French national side and scored twice in his first three appearances.

Crystal Palace enter Jean-Philippe Mateta contract talks

Manchester United have long been credited with transfer interest in Mateta with a report from CaughtOffside carrying renewed reports of a potential January bid last month. The Red Devils invested £74 million in signing Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig this summer but the striker now has a knee injury.

Ruben Amorim’s side could also part ways with Joshua Zirkzee in January, which would free up a spot for a new striker acquisition. A January swoop for Mateta would be ambitious and would not come cheap.

CaughtOffside had reported that Manchester United were just ‘one of the clubs’ showing ‘strong interest’ in Mateta with Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur also named. In October, it was added that Mateta was ‘open to a new challenge’.

Man Utd and Tottenham interested in Mateta transfer

As a result, it was claimed that Crystal Palace would be unlikely to engage in new contract talks over a higher wage should a transfer exit either in January or the summer be seen as inevitable. However, that no longer looks to be the case with a U-turn made.

The outlet added that a £40 million bid may have been enough for Crystal Palace to look at selling Mateta but, in any world, that would only come with a replacement being found first. The Eagles blocked a summer exit for Marc Guehi having not found a like-for-like incoming with Oliver Glasner staunch on his position.

In August, Glasner said: “From my side, it’s now Friday and the window closes on Monday, he has to [stay]. He has to because it’s not possible, I think, at the moment to find a Marc Guehi replacement who can play straight in the Premier League, being a starter for Crystal Palace, being consistent.

“When we see our foundation of the success we’ve had in the last few months, it’s our defence. Marc is a crucial part, he’s the captain, English international and has the most experience. Getting the right replacement in now, I think, is almost impossible.”

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