Jean-Philippe Mateta is a goal machine. (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Given the season they’ve just had, it’s no surprise several Crystal Palace players are being linked with high-profile summer moves.
Under Oliver Glasner, the Eagles recorded their best-ever Premier League points tally and lifted their first major piece of silverware—beating Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup final. With their slick, attacking style of play, Palace turned heads across Europe and will now play in the Europa League next season.
Unsurprisingly, some of their standout stars are now attracting major interest.
Eberechi Eze, who scored the winner at Wembley against City, is on the radar of several top clubs. Chelsea are reportedly keen, with the Blues looking to add attacking depth after deciding not to sign Jadon Sancho permanently. Manchester City, clearly impressed by his final performance, are also said to be monitoring the England international.
Another player drawing elite attention is Adam Wharton.
The 20-year-old midfielder has been a revelation since arriving in January, and reports claim Real Madrid have sent scouts to watch him several times this season. A summer move hasn’t been ruled out, though Palace will be desperate to keep hold of him with European football on the horizon.
Juventus, AC Milan Join Race for Mateta
Jean-Philippe Mateta is another Palace player on the radar of Europe’s biggest clubs.
The French striker bagged 17 goals in all competitions during 2024–25, following on from a 19-goal haul the previous season. His powerful, no-nonsense style has earned widespread praise—including from former Premier League striker Troy Deeney.
After Mateta scored twice in a win over Leicester City back in September, Deeney wrote of the 27-year-old: “He was a beast and an absolute joy to watch. Big, powerful, and obviously scored the decisive goal to get them back on track. He just led the line really well with Eddie Nketiah behind him. A real threat.”
While Manchester United have been linked with the 27-year-old, new reports from TEAMTalk claim both Juventus and AC Milan are now also in the mix. Juve reportedly see Mateta, who Palace value at around £50 million, as a more affordable option than Victor Osimhen, while Milan are considering him as their next No. 9.
Whether Palace can resist the growing interest in their key players remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: after a landmark season, the Eagles are no longer flying under the radar
About the Author
