GdS: ‘Mateta intrigue’ – Milan left in suspense as Crystal Palace search for replacement

AC Milan are still hopeful of getting Jean-Philippe Mateta late in the window, but they have been left waiting by Crystal Palace.

La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) write that Mateta was in London yesterday, along with his agent – Paul Latouche – awaiting Crystal Palace’s approval to fly to Milan. The English club have not yet given the green light because the search for a replacement hasn’t yet been successful.

Palace attempted to join the race for 19-year-old Sidiki Chérif, but he landed in Istanbul last night and will (barring any sensational surprises) be a Fenerbahce player, who secured a €4m loan fee plus an €18m option to buy and €3m in bonuses.

So, the London club can go back in for Jorgen Strand Larsen, search for another striker, or decide to keep Mateta until the end of the season. Time to identify an alternative is running out, with Milan waiting for news.

Down to the wire

Milan have a full agreement with both Crystal Palace (for a fee around €30m, including bonuses) and the player. If they don’t get him in before the deadline tomorrow, then the Frenchman will be their striker for next season and beyond.

Mateta, however, would like to move to Italy immediately because he would be fighting for the Scudetto and would have a more important stage on which to showcase himself ahead of the World Cup.

He intends to convince Deschamps and believes he would have a better chance wearing the Rossoneri shirt than at Palace. That’s why Mateta posted a snorting emoticon on Instagram yesterday and even unfollowed his current club’s account.

It’s a way of making it clear he’s just waiting to leave and start a new adventure. Milan, however, have no intention of snubbing Crystal Palace and will only take concrete steps to bring the striker to Milan this transfer window if the English club finds a replacement.

Otherwise, they will accept the wishes of owner-president Steve Parish. Without a similar calibre alternative (Evann Guessand, on loan from Aston Villa, is not enough), he does not intend to release Mateta.

Mateta’s potential arrival will not lead to the sale of Nkunku, who yesterday reiterated to some fans outside Milanello his intention not to move. The former Chelsea man, despite receiving several offers, has chosen to finish the season with the Rossoneri.