Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta is in hospital having been stretchered off in the first half against Millwall in an FA Cup clash.

West Ham and Chelsea transfer target Jean-Philippe Mateta has been hospitalised following a reckless challenge by Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts in the first half of the FA Cup fifth round match this afternoon.

The Lions shot-stopper was shown a red card after just eight minutes having rushed out of his penalty area to clear the ball, taking out Mateta in the process. Referee Michael Oliver initially showed a yellow card but, with VAR now in use in this round of FA Cup matches, he was sent to the screen and upgraded that decision to a red.

Speaking to the BBC at half time, Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish fumed at the tackle and confirmed that Mateta had immediately been taken to hospital. He said: “So far what we know, he has a bad gash behind his ear and a head injury. He's at the hospital, we hope for the best. There's a lot of emotion in football but we need to talk about that challenge.

Steve Parish slams ‘terrible, terrible’ challenge

"In all the time I've watched football, I've never seen a challenge like it. I looked to see how old the 'keeper was, he's 30 years old. That is the most reckless challenge on a football pitch I think I've ever seen, and I think he needs to have a long, hard look at himself, that lad, because he's maybe endangering a fellow professional's life with a challenge like that.

"It's very difficult for me to talk about the rest of the game because we're worried about JP [Mateta]. And it's just a terrible, terrible challenge... Why the referee needed to go the screen, I've got no idea.”

Mateta has been in unstoppable form for Crystal Palace this season. The 27-year-old has 15 goals across all competitions, with eight of those coming since the turn of the year. That goalscoring run has attracted the attention of potential suitors.

In January, TBR Football reported that Chelsea and West Ham are competing to sign Mateta with Manchester United, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest also interested. That move could happen this summer with Mateta yet to sign a new deal at Selhurst Park and having had just a 12 month extension triggered, keeping him at the club until 2027.

The striker, who won a silver medal at Paris 2024 last summer, arrived at Crystal Palace from FC Mainz 05 in January 2022 for £9 million. Crystal Palace are still believed to be working on a ‘proper new deal’ for the player, with The Mirror claiming that any sale would cost a rival £50 million.

Man Utd urged to sign Crystal Palace bagsman

Former Arsenal star and Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson had underlined how good a signing Mateta would be for a Premier League side. Speaking on Deadline Day, he said: “Man United should get Mateta, that’s what they need.

“He’s a strong lad up front, playing at the top of his game, he leads the line, scoring goals now. He runs and works his socks off harder than anyone you know. But they won’t because he plays for Palace. And everyone would go: “what are you buying him for?”

‘But he’s 100 times better than anyone Man Utd have in the front line. Not Amad, he’s a young kid – but he’s much better than Hojlund and Zirkzee at the moment. And Man Utd are playing Mainoo up front. If you’re one of those two centre forwards, I would say: I might as well go out on loan and play for Exeter this month.”

In other news, one Crystal Palace exile is performing ‘excellently’ on loan with his new manager labelling him as ‘fantastic’.