Mainz’s sporting director Christian Heidel has ruled out a Bundesliga return for Crystal Palace’s Premier League misfit Jean-Philippe Mateta, speaking to Kicker.
Back in January, when the France U21 international was unveiled at Selhurst Park, Sky Sports claimed that his 18-month loan deal turn into become a £15 million permanent transfer once Mateta made his 15th Premier League start for the London club.
With just a few months left on his Palace deal, Mateta’s tally of starts stands at a measly three.
It almost doesn’t need saying but, as you might have guessed, the 24-year-old will not be sticking around for much longer.
A dreadful pre-season characterised by a series of glaring misses was the beginning of the end for Mateta under Patrick Vieira.
Since the 2021/22 campaign got underway, he’s played just 61 minutes of league football. And only four since Odsonne Edouard arrived from Celtic in the summer transfer window.
Has Mateta played his final game for Crystal Palace?
Unfortunately for Mateta, his parent club are not exactly toiling in his absence. Relegation battlers last season, Mainz are pushing for Europe this time around, sitting just four points adrift of the Champions League places.
“(Mateta’s return is) almost impossible for many reasons,” explains Heidel.
The sporting director did not expand further on those ‘reasons’.
But, according to Kicker, Mainz could do without adding Mateta’s £55,000-a-week salary to their wage bill.
So that’s a return to Mainz off the cards then. Do not rule out a return to France instead, however.
FootMercato claim that Mateta, who has been told he has no future at Crystal Palace, is a target for a St Etienne side who sacked Claude Puel recently following a disastrous first half of the season.
High-flying Palace, meanwhile, are looking at a range of January options. The Eagles are keen on Roma’s seldom-seen Spaniard Borja Mayoral and Rangers talisman Joe Aribo.
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