Nottingham Forest have submitted a formal bid of around £35 million for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.
The Eagles are reported to have rejected the offer, although it is believed a £40 million package would be enough to push the deal through.
Mateta has made it clear he wants to leave Selhurst Park following a recent exodus of players, a situation compounded by manager Oliver Glasner confirming that he too will be departing the club.
Relegation Rivals Flex Their Muscle
Forest — who moved five points clear of West Ham yesterday — are clearly intent on blasting their way to Premier League safety. Their willingness to spend underlines just how seriously they are taking the threat of relegation.
In a further twist of transfer musical chairs, Palace are said to be lining up a replacement for Mateta in the form of former West Ham striker target Jørgen Strand Larsen.
The spending spree elsewhere is a stark reminder of how fiercely contested the bottom end of the Premier League is shaping up to be. With West Ham set to bank around £35 million for Lucas Paquetá, the pressure is now firmly on the Hammers’ board to act — and act quickly.
With Leeds United also expected to spend, Premier League survival is becoming more difficult by the day.
No way will Mateta sign for Forest he will be looking to join a bigger club and rightfully so. I suspect a move abroad will probably be his destination as the top 6 sides have forwards in place with the exception of maybe Chelsea
If true, that’s another blow for Palace. Suddenly safety seems a lot further away for them
I think you’re overlooking that Palace are club in freefall who we can easily pass.
With Glasner throwing his toys out of the pram over Eze and Guehi, effectively being made to stay at a club he wants to leave, selling Mateta will see a complete lack of interest.
They’re currently to worst form team in the EPL, while Nuno’s mini revival has us picking up. With Thomas Frank in the brown stuff at Spurs, it might not be just Forest we are looking at.