Forest Launch £35m Bid for Mateta as Palace Dig In
Striker pushing for exit as Nottingham Forest look to boost attack
Nottingham Forest have submitted a £35 million bid for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta as they step up efforts to strengthen their attack.
The France international has informed Palace of his desire to leave and is one of several forward options being explored by Forest, who have struggled for goals this season. Only Wolves have scored fewer Premier League goals than Forest, with Steve Cooper’s side managing just 23 so far.
Forest moved last week to sign Napoli forward Lorenzo Lucca on loan, with an option to buy, but remain keen to add further firepower before the transfer window closes next Monday.
Palace holding out for replacement
Crystal Palace are reluctant to sell Mateta without first lining up a replacement and are understood to be holding out for a deal worth closer to £40m, despite the 28-year-old having less than 18 months remaining on his contract.
Mateta has attracted interest from Juventus and Aston Villa this month and is believed to be keen on a move to a Champions League club as he looks to strengthen his chances of making France’s World Cup squad this summer, having earned his first call-up last season.
Forest, who host Palace on Sunday, sit 17th in the Premier League — three points behind the Eagles in 15th — but are reportedly willing to meet Mateta’s wage demands.
Tensions and alternative targets
There is existing animosity between the two clubs after Forest took Palace’s place in the Europa League when Palace were found to be in breach of UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules.
Forest also retain an interest in Wolves striker Jørgen Strand Larsen, who is likewise admired by Palace and Leeds. Leeds have already seen a bid for the Norwegian rejected this window. Olympiakos forward Mehdi Taremi has also been linked with Forest.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, have cooled their interest in Mateta as they pursue a move to re-sign Tammy Abraham. The former Chelsea striker recently travelled to England for a medical after Besiktas — who triggered a purchase clause following his loan from Roma — agreed to sell him on. Abraham previously scored 39 goals in 120 games for Roma, winning the Conference League in 2022, and spent last season on loan at Milan.
