Aston Villa are trying to lure the France international forward to switch sides to Villa Park due to his dispute with his current club.
Aston Villa were left without a proper striker in their last outing following the absence of Ollie Watkins, who has been linked with a move to the Middle East, and the injuries to Tammy Abraham and Brian Madjo. They are hunting for a reliable and prolific goalscorer with only a few days left before deadline day.
One of their targets is a France international frontman from a Premier League rival, as reported by Birmingham Mail.
“Aston Villa are targeting a move for Jean-Philippe Mateta, as the French striker finds himself embroiled in a contractual dispute with Crystal Palace.”
Mateta has reportedly taken his contract dispute with the Eagles to FIFA. He joined Palace in January 2021, initially on an 18-month loan, before signing permanently the following year, in 2022, on a four-and-a-half-year contract.
His contract included a one-year extension option, which Crystal Palace activated in 2024. This means his contract expires next summer, at the end of the 2026/27 season.
However, the former Mainz frontman believes the extension was optional and should be nullified. He took the case to an independent tribunal under Premier League rules. Unfortunately, the decision did not go in his favour, which is why he has now taken the matter to the higher authority, FIFA.
Sadly, the world governing body has no authority to overturn the tribunal’s decision. This means he would have to see out his contract this season. Villa could negotiate a loan deal to solve their lack of a frontman in the squad at the moment.
Mateta has been a key figure in Crystal Palace’s rise and success following the appointment of Oliver Glasner as manager midway through the 2023/24 season. He soon became the first choice under the Austrian boss and scored 12 goals in his final 10 games to help salvage Palace’s campaign as they finished 10th.
In the following season, he helped the Eagles win the first major silverware in the club’s history, the FA Cup, after beating Manchester City in the final.
Mateta then scored in the Community Shield before Palace defeated Liverpool on penalties at the beginning of the 2025/26 season. He also contributed heavily to his club’s first continental trophy, the UEFA Conference League in the same campaign. The striker, who has seven international caps, scored the only goal in the final to end Rayo Vallecano’s dream.
Overall, the former Lyon man has registered 62 goals and 14 assists in 203 appearances. He seems to be a perfect replacement for Watkins, as he often steps up in big games. Mateta is a prolific scorer, a profile Villa badly need at the moment.
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