Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta was involved in a transfer saga in January. Last week he explained how it had impacted him.
AC Milan were very close to signing the Frenchman. Sport Witness then covered how doubts emerged about the striker’s fitness, related to a knee injury.
The deal never materialised, and Milan later ended with West Ham’s Niklas Füllkrug. The German has just one league goal and hasn’t convinced Max Allegri about a starting role.
He is expected to return to London, with Milan now back in the race for the Crystal Palace player.
Deal getting close again
Corriere dello Sport believe that despite uncertainty about Allegri’s position, Milan have practically closed two deals. They expect Leon Goretzka to join the Rossoneri and also state a move for Crystal Palace’s Mateta is at a ‘very advanced stage’.
The newspaper believe the striker’s fitness is back on track after the troubles of January. CEO Giorgio Furlani has decided to return to the mix and take advantage of Mateta’s Eagles contract, which expires in 2027.
It’s believed his valuation is lower than it was in January, and that Mateta will end up at Milan with Goretzka, who is now keen on a move to the San Siro.
Chance to heal transfer wounds
The January failure left a mark on Mateta, and clinching a summer move to AC Milan may be his desire.
Last week, the Frenchman said: “I’m at my best, 100%.
“When you come back, it’s not easy to get your cardio back. I worked hard to get it back, and it’s back. I’m a leader on the team. I’m used to competition; it’s good for me.
“Frankly, it was a real blow at the time, when they told me it was over… After that, I quickly thought about how to bounce back.
“I consulted several specialists, and when they assured me that surgery wasn’t necessary, I focused on the next step, until my return. I worked incredibly hard to show the coach (Oliver Glasner) that the leader, “JP,” was there to reclaim his place and win with the team.”
Politics likely at play
It is important to know the politically active situation at AC Milan right now. From Furlani and Allegri to sporting director Igli Tare, everyone’s future is in doubt. The RedBird ownership isn’t happy with the chaos of the last three months and want to make major changes (again).
Corriere dello Sport themselves say that Tare will leave in the next few weeks, which may make their information about the Crystal Palace player unreliable.
