Highly-rated Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has reportedly informed the club that he wants to leave during the January transfer window, seeking a new challenge as interest from Aston Villa continues to intensify. The French international's desire for a move comes amid a turbulent period for the capital side, which has seen significant setbacks both on and off the pitch.
Palace's Recent Struggles and Mateta's Form
Crystal Palace have faced a series of challenges this month, including the departure of club captain Marc Guehi to Manchester City and manager Oliver Glasner's announcement that he will step down at the end of the season. Additionally, the FA Cup holders were unexpectedly eliminated from the competition they won last year by National League North side Macclesfield Town, and their league form has declined sharply since a 19-match unbeaten run was halted by Everton in October. The club also finished outside the top eight in the Conference League, setting up a two-match play-off ahead.
Despite these difficulties, Mateta has been in formidable form in front of goal since Glasner's appointment, scoring 56 goals in 185 appearances for Palace and playing a key role in their FA Cup and Community Shield triumphs in 2025. However, he has started all 22 league matches this season, netting eight goals, though his recent output has dipped with only one strike in his last eight matches.
Reasons Behind Mateta's Desire to Leave
It is reported that Mateta is keen to seek a new challenge that would allow him to compete regularly in a top European competition, thereby increasing his chances of earning more caps for the French national team. His future at Palace has been uncertain since the summer, when the club attempted to extend his contract beyond its current expiration in 2028 but failed to persuade him to sign a new deal.
Sky Sports notes that Palace are not actively looking to sell the striker soon, indicating that it would require a significant offer from interested parties to prise him away from Selhurst Park. Both Aston Villa and Juventus are showing strong interest, with Villa particularly eager to bolster their attacking options to enhance their European qualification hopes.
Villa's Striker Search and Alternatives
Aston Villa are pushing to sign a striker in this window and are thought to be making progress in their attempts to re-sign Tammy Abraham, who had a successful loan spell with the club eight seasons ago. Abraham is likely to be a cheaper option than Mateta due to recent injury struggles and may be more open to competing with Ollie Watkins for a starting position.
Reports suggest that Abraham is open to moving to Villa, and his parent club AS Roma see this as an opportune time to cash in. However, complications arise as Abraham is currently on loan at Besiktas with an option to buy, meaning any deal would likely involve negotiations between Villa and the Turkish club, potentially including financial terms or a player exchange.
As the transfer window progresses, Mateta's potential exit adds to the uncertainty at Crystal Palace, while Aston Villa's pursuit highlights their ambition to strengthen their squad for the remainder of the season.
