Ligue 1 side Saint-Étienne are interested in signing of Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, according to claims from France on Tuesday evening.
Outlet Foot Mercato is the one saying that with a huge need for reinforcements in the January transfer window, the French side could ‘rush’ for his signing in the winter market.
Mateta is currently loaned to Crystal Palace by Mainz, but as pointed out by the story, he’s not in Patrick Vieira’s plans at the London side, as the manager ‘kindly indicated the exit’ to the player.
So Saint-Étienne would try to take advantage of the situation and ‘jump at the opportunity’ by negotiating the transfer directly with the German club.
Foot Mercato points out that Mainz don’t want Mateta back either, so Saint-Étienne’s intention would be to get him on a new loan, as an attempt to ‘recover’ his football.
Since joining Crystal Palace back in January this year, the striker has only made ten appearances, scoring one goal in the process. He’s been barely used this season, with 124 minutes played, so it’s a scenario in which it would make sense for Mainz to move him to another club.
