Club make contact to sign Crystal Palace player – May be an ‘unknown name’ for fans, but director clearly a huge fan

Last Tuesday, L’Equipe reported Napoli have held concrete talks with Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta.

The striker finished the season with 19 goals and five assists and managed 13 goals and an assist from 13 games since the Eagles appointed Oliver Glasner as manager in February.

His fine displays for Crystal Palace have caught the Serie A side’s attention and they are now joined by Juventus in the transfer chase.

That’s at least what Tutto Juve are reporting, and they add that the Turin club have made contact, likely with the 26-year-old’s camp, to request information about a move.

The website, which focuses its coverage on Juve, have also sent a message to fans. They say the Frenchman may be an ‘unknown name’ to them, but not to the club’s technical director, Cristiano Giuntoli.

Mateta initially joined Crystal Palace on loan from Mainz 05 in 2021 and his stay in London was made permanent a year later.

Tutto Juve say Giuntoli has been closely following the frontman since his time in Germany. This shows the Juventus director has long been an admirer of the Crystal Palace player.

His contract lasts until 2026 and there’s no mention whether Mateta or Crystal Palace are open to doing business, if Juve move to sign him in the summer window.