Crystal Palace are planning to let Christian Benteke and Michy Batshuayi leave Selhurst Park as Jean-Philippe Mateta jets in from Mainz, as reported by Het Laaste Nieuws.
While Roy Hodgson will be thrilled to see one of the Bundesliga’s most gifted strikers arrive, you’d imagine that Mateta’s midseason switch will not go down too well with Roberto Martinez.
With European Championships looming on the horizon, the Belgium manager already has concerns about the form and fitness of star man Eden Hazard.
To make matters worse, two of his most experienced attackers are now facing five months stuck on the sidelines.
According to The Mail, Mateta will join Crystal Palace on an initial loan deal which will turn into a £16 million permanent transfer once he has made his 15th Premier League start for the London-based outfit.
And HLN believe that this could be the final nail in Benteke’s Palace career.
The club’s £27 million record signing has found some semblance of form in recent times but his goals tally still stands at a grim three strikes in 13 Premier League appearances.
At present, Crystal Palace have no plans to extend a £120,000-a-week contract which expires in July.
Meanwhile, Batshuayi’s hopes of an extended stay at Selhurst Park appear to be over.
The Chelsea loanee has not found the target in 11 matches under Hodgson and is now at risk of falling even further down the pecking order, behind Mateta, Benteke and the versatile Jordan Ayew.
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