Player’s Crystal Palace exit ‘almost done’ – Set to sign for new club ‘in the coming hours’

If Le Progrès in France are to be believed, then Jean-Philippe Mateta is on the verge of leaving Crystal Palace.

The French newspaper the deal is ‘almost done’, with the player to join AS Saint-Etienne on loan ‘in the coming hours’.

Despite the deal seemingly said to be ‘improbable’ last week, things have changed since then, with all three clubs, those being Crystal Palace, Mainz and the Ligue 1 side, agreeing on the change.

Saint-Etienne have now managed to ‘take on his important salary’, meaning that one of the bigger obstacles has been overcome.

The player will therefore leave Crystal Palace after just under a year of being there on loan, during which he has been rather disappointing.

Left out by Patrick Vieira for most of the season, the player has managed just 13 appearances in all competitions for the Eagles, scoring two goals, including one in the 3-0 win over Norwich City just after Boxing Day.