Crystal Palace have excluded Jean-Philippe Mateta from their squad for Sunday's match against Nottingham Forest due to the striker being "not at his best", according to manager Oliver Glasner.
Glasner stated that Mateta won't be traveling with the team to Forest, citing the need for every player to be in top form and suggesting that personal issues could be a factor. This decision comes as Milan are reportedly close to signing Mateta on a three-and-a-half-year deal worth up to £35m, although Palace have been hesitant to sell him due to concerns about selling to a Premier League rival.
The club's hierarchy is said to be weighing the pros and cons of letting go of Mateta, who has expressed a desire to play in Serie A for World Cup purposes. Milan's offer falls short of Palace's asking price, but the Italian club is believed to be gaining momentum with regards to completing the transfer.
Palace are currently considering offers from both Forest and Milan, but their priorities lie in securing a new striker rather than parting ways with Mateta. As such, discussions over a potential deal for Jørgen Strand Larsen remain stalled, pending a resolution on Mateta's future.
The situation highlights Palace's ongoing efforts to strengthen their squad ahead of the World Cup and address concerns about injuries to key players. However, it remains unclear whether Mateta will stay or go, with Glasner leaving the door open for either outcome before February 2nd.
Glasner stated that Mateta won't be traveling with the team to Forest, citing the need for every player to be in top form and suggesting that personal issues could be a factor. This decision comes as Milan are reportedly close to signing Mateta on a three-and-a-half-year deal worth up to £35m, although Palace have been hesitant to sell him due to concerns about selling to a Premier League rival.
The club's hierarchy is said to be weighing the pros and cons of letting go of Mateta, who has expressed a desire to play in Serie A for World Cup purposes. Milan's offer falls short of Palace's asking price, but the Italian club is believed to be gaining momentum with regards to completing the transfer.
Palace are currently considering offers from both Forest and Milan, but their priorities lie in securing a new striker rather than parting ways with Mateta. As such, discussions over a potential deal for Jørgen Strand Larsen remain stalled, pending a resolution on Mateta's future.
The situation highlights Palace's ongoing efforts to strengthen their squad ahead of the World Cup and address concerns about injuries to key players. However, it remains unclear whether Mateta will stay or go, with Glasner leaving the door open for either outcome before February 2nd.
so crystal palace is all over the place 
... first they think mateta can't play 
then suddenly milan comes in and offers £35m 
and now they're saying he's not fit enough 
? it's like they're trying to drive him mad 
. anyway, i still think palace should let him go 
... milan seems legit and mateta wants to play in serie a 
so who really knows what's best for palace anymore 
?
milan seem like a better fit 4 him anyway 35m is some serious cash but maybe they'll be willing to listen 2 other offers 2? wouldn't wanna see palace waste more time on jorgen larsen he's not exactly setting the world on fire either 
. I mean, who wants to sell a player and then have them leave just because you couldn't get their price right? It's like playing a game of chess with your best player – you gotta think 3 moves ahead 
. One minute he's a Crystal Palace striker, the next he's on the move to Milan... it's like being in a soap opera, mate! 
. They're not going to strengthen their squad if they keep holding onto someone who wants out that badly 
. Jørgen Strand Larsen's situation must be just as frustrating for them... I hope they sort it out soon 
. but i guess it's good for palace to have some options and not be locked into one deal... maybe jørgen strand larsen will come through? 
. It's gonna be interesting to see how this plays out before the World Cup 
. On the other hand, I get why they'd want to keep him - he has a lot of potential and would be a great asset for any team in Serie A 
. But at the same time, it's clear that Palace is trying to make some big changes to their squad ahead of the World Cup 
️. I hope they can sort out Mateta's future soon so he can get back on track and show the world what he's capable of 
!
. i feel for the guy, he's got a lot on his plate with milan sniffing around and now palace are like "maybe we should sell him". ugh the uncertainty is killing me 
. But at the same time, you can't deny that Milan are offering him an incredible opportunity to make a dream move to Serie A, and who wouldn't want to play for their country in the World Cup? 
! So yeah, this whole situation is pretty complicated, but I'm hoping Palace can find a way to make it work 