Crystal Palace unlikely to agree £100,000-a-week deal with star man - Expert

Crystal Palace are unlikely to meet Jean-Philippe Mateta’s contract demands amid talks over a new contract following his upturn in form. This is according to... The post Crystal Palace unlikely to agree £100,000-a-week deal with star man - Expert appeared first on Football Insider.

Oct 9, 2024 - 23:00

Crystal Palace unlikely to agree £100,000-a-week deal with star man - Expert

Crystal Palace are unlikely to meet Jean-Philippe Mateta’s contract demands amid talks over a new contract following his upturn in form.

This is according to former Man United, Aston Villa and West Ham scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected in the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that the Eagles would only reach an agreement that works for them.

Reports have claimed Mateta, 27, is demanding a £100,000-per-week deal which would place him among the club’s highest earners – something Palace are unlikely to facilitate.

This comes following the striker’s excellent run of form following the appointment of Oliver Glasner which saw him score 14 goals in 16 games for Palace between March and May.

That record was then extended to 19 in 21 games following his performances for France’s Olympic team.

However, the Eagles are currently winless in the Premier League after seven games so far this season, picking up three draws and four defeats.

Mateta has scored just two league goals in that time, experiencing a dip in that form, although he has scored two in two games in the Carabao Cup.

Brown went as far as to suggest Palace could look to cash in on the striker as a result of the contract dispute in a bid to make a profit while his stock is high.

Crystal Palace stance on Jean-Philippe Mateta contract talks revealed

The Eagles signed Arsenal star Eddie Nketiah in the summer and are now well-stocked up front, with the Englishman replacing his teammate in the starting XI against Liverpool.

Brown, who has worked closely with players and agents at the top level, including during his time as Sir Alex Ferguson’s number two, has insisted the Frenchman’s agent will be the driving force behind the latest contract dispute.

“I have to say, he’s made massive improvements all around,” he told Football Insider.

“He hit that purple patch where he couldn’t stop scoring and he looked like a totally different player.

“Whether that’s a flash in the pan and he reverts to his previous level, time will tell.

“£100,000 per week seems a lot to me. I know Olise was on around that and Eze is as well, but is Mateta as important as those two players were?

“To be honest, I don’t think Palace will fork out that sort of money for him.

“It’s down to his agent, though. They’ll be driving things. They’ll see what other players are getting and they’ll want the same for their client.