4 days ago
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A report from France has confirmed that AC Milan are in advanced talks to sign Jean-Philippe Mateta, so much so that he could arrive in Italy today.
According to L’Equipe, Mateta is set to leave Crystal Palace for Milan, where a three-and-a-half-year deal awaits him. The transfer fee is reported to be €35m and the French international – who has been capped three times – has already agreed personal terms with the Rossoneri.
In recent hours, the striker had also been the subject of a major offer from Nottingham Forest. However, the two offers submitted by Forest failed to generate much excitement with the player, who wanted a bigger club.
At 28, Mateta’s priority was to join a side capable of competing in the Champions League, and Milan are currently second in Serie A so they are on course to get back there. He could fly to Italy as early as this evening, as per the report.
The long-term No.9?
Mateta has scored 56 goals in 186 appearances for Crystal Palace, and after a difficult start to life in south London it was the arrival of Oliver Glasner as head coach in early 2024 that saw his scoring rate increase rapidly.
He has 40 goals in 93 appearances under the Austrian’s management, including a spectacular 2024-25 campaign. The Frenchman has recorded 10 goals across all competition this season, netting a hat-trick in a 3–3 draw against Bournemouth on 18 October last year.
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