The Mateta Juventus Transfer Is Closer Than It Appears
Jean-Philippe Mateta edges closer to Juventus as talks progress late in the window, with Crystal Palace lowering their demands for the French striker.
Andrea Locorotondo
Updated on 16 January 2026
Mateta Juventus Transfer Enters Final Phase
Like a satellite, Jean-Philippe Mateta has been seen orbiting several Serie A teams ahead of the winter transfer window, first Atalanta, then Roma, and finally Milan.
However, it now seems that Mateta has finished his journey around the ‘Serie A solar system’ and is ready to land on the planet Juventus.
There is some scepticism about the French striker in the Bianconeri camp. Scouts will certainly monitor his performances closely between now and the end of the season to see if they will select him for the French national team’s World Cup squad.
He has played 32 games and scored 10 goals in all competitions so far, and he would offer something different to the other strikers in the squad, such as David and Openda.
Rumours of Mateta’s possible move to the Bianconeri intensified yesterday. The deal could be finalised towards the end of the transfer window.
Stats provided by Opta
Why Juventus Want Another Striker
Luciano Spalletti has asked the Bianconeri management for another striker to provide quality options for rotation; given that Jonathan David appears to have found his form and is now the starting striker.
However, with Lois Openda still struggling and Dusan Vlahovic injured and seemingly leaving the Juve project, the team needs more options.
Negotiations are ongoing. A final agreement could be reached in the coming days, and the deal could be finalised.
This would give Luciano Spalletti a striker in the mould of Romelu Lukaku immediately. This is exactly what Spalletti needs to change gear and try to catch up in the Scudetto race.
Crystal Palace Stance and Deal Structure
Crystal Palace are asking for £30 million, which is £20 million less than they asked Atalanta for in the summer.
Alternatively, the London club would consider swapping for Jonathan David, whom the Continassa side currently deems untouchable.
It is no secret that Mateta would like to play in the Champions League. A contract renewal with Crystal Palace would clearly depend on the club qualifying for the highest level of European football.
This seems unlikely based on the current Premier League table and Crystal Palace form.
Andrea Locorotondo
Andrea Locorotondo is an Italian sports journalist. He has been living in the UK since 2015 and he is accredited by the SJA and AIPS. In addition to his role as contributor for FootItalia, he has demonstrated his ability to effectively cover a range of positions in sports journalism. Former Sportitalia TV journalist back in 2014, he is currently employed as a data journalist for Opta and Sportsdata. He is the team leader of Italian commentators at GBVision. He collaborates with EA Sports and frequently appears as a guest on Italian radio and television shows, including RDS Serie A TV and La Fiera del Calcio, where he shares his insights as a Premier League expert.
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