Jean-Philippe Mateta has been told he isn’t part of Crystal Palace’s plans and faces an exit from the Premier League outfit in the January transfer window, as reported by The Sun (31 October, page 65).
In truth, the writing was on the wall for Mateta long before he failed to get off the bench during Saturday’s latest coupon-busting result at the Etihad Stadium.
The former France U21 international has played just four minutes of top-flight football since producing an ineffective display in the 3-0 opening day trouncing at London rivals Chelsea.
Odsonne Edouard arrived a fortnight after that Stamford Bridge defeat and, with Christian Benteke rediscovering the form he showed in the second half of last season, that has left Mateta sliding down the pecking order at a rate of knots.
According to Sky Sports, Palace have an obligation to fork out more than £13.4 million to Bundesliga outfit Mainz – Mateta’s parent club – when the striker makes his 15th Premier League start for the club.
Right now, however, that tally stands at a measly three and, barring a sudden injury crisis, number four seems a long way off.
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And with Mateta left in no doubt about his place in Vieira’s plans – in short, he has no place in Vieira’s plans – Mainz can bid farewell to their hopes of a £13.4 million windfall.
Has Jean-Philippe Mateta started his last game for Crystal Palace?
It’s understood the 6ft 4in striker could leave Selhurst Park as early as January, with his contract expected to be cancelled.
“If the situation doesn’t improve at all by winter, we might have to talk to Crystal Palace about whether there are other options,” Mainz head of sport Christian Heidel told BILD, via BuliNews, earlier this season.
In total, Mateta has scored just one goal in Crystal Palace colours – although at least he’ll have that memorable back-heel finish against arch rivals Brighton and Hove Albion to show for a Premier League spell that promised plenty but delivered little.
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