• Newcastle determined to keep striker out of Tottenham’s reach
Newcastle United are said to be ramping up the pressure on Tottenham Hotspur in the pursuit of Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.
The French forward has impressed during his spell at Selhurst Park, and speculation continues to grow that he could be on the move during the January transfer window.
According to Sports Boom, Newcastle are keen on Mateta, while TEAMtalk report that Tottenham have also identified the 28-year-old as a target. With the Magpies now firmly in the mix, Spurs are reportedly feeling the urgency to act swiftly if they want to secure his signature.
What next for Jean-Philippe Mateta?
Mateta’s future remains uncertain, with a number of clubs believed to be monitoring his situation this month and the player understood to be open to a departure.
Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano recently revealed that Mateta and his representatives have informed Crystal Palace of his desire to leave, with Aston Villa and Juventus also credited with interest.
“Jean-Philippe Mateta and his camp have told Crystal Palace that he wants to move on,” Romano said earlier this week.
“After talks with Aston Villa and Juventus, Mateta is pushing for a January transfer, but the final decision rests with Palace. Discussions are ongoing.”
Palace face difficult decision
Crystal Palace are already enduring a challenging period, with much of last season’s FA Cup-winning squad having been broken up.
Eberechi Eze, who scored the decisive goal in that final, has since joined Arsenal, while captain Marc Guehi completed a move to Manchester City earlier this month. Manager Oliver Glasner has also confirmed he will depart when his contract expires this summer, making the potential loss of Mateta another significant setback the club can ill afford.
