Aston Villa have opened talks with Crystal Palace over a potential deal for striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, though their opening offer has reportedly failed to meet the Eagles' valuation of the 29-year-old France international, according to Standard Sport. It remains uncertain whether Villa will follow up with an improved bid in the coming days.
The move comes amid uncertainty surrounding the future of Villa's current first-choice forward, Ollie Watkins, who has drawn strong interest from Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal. Watkins was notably absent from Unai Emery's matchday squad for Villa's heavy 4-0 defeat away to Brighton in the Premier League at the weekend, a decision that raised eyebrows given his importance to the side in recent seasons.
When asked about the reasons behind leaving out his main striker, Emery suggested that only Watkins himself could shed light on the situation, hinting at unresolved issues behind the scenes that may be linked to a possible exit. Villa appear to be preparing for the possibility of losing their England international and have identified Mateta as a like-for-like replacement who could step into the void left by Watkins should he depart for the Middle East.
Mateta's situation at Selhurst Park has grown increasingly complicated in recent weeks. It emerged that the striker had taken Crystal Palace to a Premier League tribunal last season, arguing that the final year of his contract was not legally binding. When that process failed to deliver the outcome he sought, Mateta escalated his complaint to FIFA in an attempt to have the matter resolved in his favor.
The findings of the tribunal have not been made public, but sources close to the situation indicate that Mateta was informed his contract, which is due to run until the summer of 2027, remains fully valid and enforceable. FIFA, for its part, ruled that it did not have the jurisdiction to intervene in the dispute, effectively closing off that avenue for the forward.
The legal wrangling has cast a shadow over Mateta's immediate future at Palace, and it is against this backdrop that Villa have chosen to intensify their pursuit of the striker. Despite the uncertainty over his contractual status, Mateta continues to be a key figure for both club and country. He earned a call-up to the France squad for this summer's World Cup, helping his nation reach the semi-finals of the tournament held in North America.
At club level, Mateta started for Crystal Palace in their opening Premier League fixture of the new season, a 2-0 defeat away to Everton on Saturday, showing no outward signs that the ongoing dispute with his employers has affected his standing in the first team.
For Villa, signing Mateta would represent a significant statement of intent as they look to bolster their attacking options amid the swirling speculation over Watkins' future. However, with Palace holding firm on their valuation and Mateta's contract situation still something of a gray area following the failed tribunal and FIFA appeal, any deal is likely to take time to materialize.
Emery's side will be keen to resolve their striker situation swiftly, particularly with the transfer window edging closer to its conclusion and Watkins' potential move to Saudi Arabia gathering pace. Whether Villa return with an improved offer for Mateta, or explore alternative targets, is likely to become clearer in the coming days.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport.