Mainz coach Bo Svensson has confirmed Jean-Philippe Mateta’s impending move to Crystal Palace, while speaking to Sky Deutschland, via Kicker.
A penny for Michy Batshuayi’s thoughts.
The Belgium international had already fallen behind a resurgent Christian Benteke in Roy Hodgson’s pecking order and, now, he appears to be at serious risk of slipping to third place.
Because Crystal Palace have all-but wrapped up a deal to bring Mateta to Selhurst Park.
The 6ft 4ins Frenchman is arriving on an initial 18-month loan deal, but will be tied down to a permanent contract once he has started 15 Premier League games for the Eagles.
The whole package is expected to set Palace back a cool £16 million (Mail).
“He is currently doing the medical check at Crystal Palace,” Mainz coach Svensson explained, before leaving Mateta out of his team for Tuesday’s 2-0 Bundesliga defeat to Wolfsburg.
“If everything goes well, as we assume, it will go well.”
Mateta has scored 10 times this season, including a hat-trick against Freiburg, but arrives at Crystal Palace without a goal in his last seven league matches.
When fully fit and firing, Mateta is capable of combining the speed of Batshuayi with the strength and hold-up play of Benteke; the best of both worlds, perhaps.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
