Mateta to AC Milan: Crystal Palace striker close to historic transfer

Jean-Philippe Mateta is back in AC Milan’s sights. According to Italian media Tuttosport and Il Tirreno, the 28-year-old Crystal Palace striker is in advanced negotiations with the Lombard club, with just one year remaining on his contract with the Eagles.

The lead is not new: last winter, an agreement already seemed to be in place between the two clubs, but the transfer fell through at the last moment after Mateta failed his medical examination due to a knee problem. This time, discussions appear to have reached another level.

What makes the scenario particularly interesting is the possible simultaneous arrival of Oliver Glasner at the head of the Milan club. The Austrian manager, who has guided Crystal Palace through a solid season, is reportedly being considered to succeed Massimiliano Allegri on the San Siro bench. If both deals go through, Mateta would join Milan with his own coach — a rare continuity in major summer transactions.

Sportively, the Sevran native is coming off his best Premier League season with 12 goals to his name, performances that earned him a place on Didier Deschamps’ list for the 2026 World Cup. A first selection that confirms his status as a top-tier striker and logically strengthens his value on the transfer market.

AC Milan, in search of a centre-forward capable of making an impact in the box, sees Mateta as a physical and technical profile suited to its needs. Crystal Palace, for its part, finds itself in a delicate position: letting go of its top scorer with a year left on his contract, or risking losing him for free next summer.