Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta is open to a move to Italy, and AC Milan are reportedly ready to give him the opportunity.
Milan’s issues in the striker position in recent seasons have been well documented, and it they are ongoing despite the fact that the team sit second in the table and are dreaming of a push for the Scudetto.
Santiago Gimenez is the only natural centre-forward in the squad but he is currently sidelined and hasn’t scored a league goal yet in 2025-26, while €38m summer signing Christopher Nkunku is also on zero Serie A goals.
Mateta the answer?
According to GiveMeSport, Mateta is open to leaving Crystal Palace before his deal runs out and he ‘has ambitions to play in Serie A before the end of his career’. The 28-year-old watches Italian football a lot, and dreams of playing for a big club in the Champions League before his career is done.
They add that Atalanta showed an interest in Mateta during the summer window, but Palace had very little interest in negotiating the sale of one of their most important players before a campaign with European football.
According to TEAMtalk meanwhile, it is Milan that are ‘plotting a spectacular transfer’ for Mateta, and the player is ‘keen to make the move’. The Rossoneri management clearly believe that the man who scored 17 Premier League goals last season can fix their long-running No.9 issue.
It seems the interest is mutual, as a source told them: “He’s open to leaving. The 28-year-old has ambitions to represent a Serie A club before the end of his career.” A mid-season departure could materialise if a bid of £35m (around €40m) were to arrive.
Milan have a ‘serious interest’ in the Frenchman, ‘viewing the 6ft4in powerhouse as the “classic” No. 9 to spearhead Massimiliano Allegri’s attack’. In July, Mateta instructed his agents to ‘make the San Siro move happen’ but Palace wanted £50m, so it didn’t go anywhere.
The report concludes by stating: “TEAMtalk understands Palace won’t block a dream move, but expect haggling.” If the deal were to come to fruition in January, it could force Gimenez out, with a move to the Premier League mentioned for him
Could we stop hiring nons and get actual Italians on the team instead?
Could you learn something about football before commenting? It is embarrassing. Or, more probably, about soccer.
So, what Italian striker do you want?
That dude is a tall drink of water…. He looked pretty good for France NT, but I haven’t seen much of him outside of that. Is this a decent buy?
He looks great for Palace. I think he’d be a beast in Italy.
Does he play with his back to goal well? I feel like that’s what Allegri needs in a striker for our system.
Yes, he is a center forward. I’d call him a complete forward as he can do everything. Shoot first time, hold the ball, run into space, poach in the box. Strong enough and fast enough. He isn’t world class at most of these things but he is good enough to be an elite forward when all is added up.
Yes, he has looked great for Crystal Palace. Tall- 6′ 4″, strong, and fast. So far he has six goals in twelve games. Last year 14 goals in 37 games. I’ve suggested in a couple of posts ago that ACM should get this guy. He’s coming from a top league that is fast and physcial. He has 18 months left on his contract so pay the money in January to get him.
I don’t think he will leave in January.
Good one but we know how this story usually ends. Inter will sign him.
Inter doesn’t need more strikers. They need a younger more energetic midfield and to replace Acerbi/DeVrij
Yes, and they needed more strikers when they signed Taremi, or Alexis Sanchez, or Bony, or kept Esposito. I can go on. Inter changes strikers every single season.
Maybe we could do a swap with Nkunku..
He’d be a fantastic signing, physically imposing player. Total opposite of Santi.
Question is does Allegri then tweak the formation to get both Rafa and Puli on the field with him as well, a la Giroud days.
4-3-3?
4-2-3-1?
Back 4 still concerning
3-4-3 would be the most logical switch but we would lose midfield solidity. Either way we will be losing someone somewhere other than defense.
As it stands with the 532 though we’re seriously unbalanced in that we’re so defensive and can’t control games. I’d welcome a 433 or 343 but I guess no formation is perfect.
We can’t keep on depending on these goals that come out of nowhere and that the other teams keep missing good chances. Last game ACM had 16 touches in the box and Mike had two great saves and at least one shot hit the post. The way Allegri has been playing the margin for error is too small. With the players ACM have they should be scoring 3 goals a game. Yes, they’ll give away a goal, but these 1-0 wins sound good until they start being ties. Maybe the goal is just to get top 4.
I feel like if Allegri had better CB’s he’d play a 433 because both Leao and Puli are so much better when they ping off a proper 9.
💯
If we had good enough defenders then 433 would be great precisely as a solid striker would unleash the true potential of Pulisic and Leao.
Have to play 3 mf in this squad as thats where our quality lies (Modric, Rabiot our most consistent outfielders and im betting on Jashari coming good, plus Ricci is good depth option)
However 433 does freeze out Alexis from the starting XI I think barring a few random misses we’ve all been impressed by his contributions this season. He is much more of a winger/RWB than full back, but perhaps he can adapt?
On the other side I have every confidence in Bartesaghi seamlessly transitioning from LWB to LB in a back 4.
if we can swap directly w/ Nkunku will be great, i can’t find any match position 4 him in this formation, we should sometime say no to Moncada’s French esp big money transfer, he’s uneeded purchase.