Reports originating from the United Kingdom indicate that Premier League club Crystal Palace has turned down an offer from Italian side Atalanta for their popular striker, Jean-Philippe Mateta. This development comes as Atalanta continues its search for a new forward following the recent departure of Mateo Retegui.
Atalanta`s Approach for Mateta Denied by Crystal Palace
According to information from BBC Sport, Crystal Palace rejected a bid worth €34.7 million (£30 million) for Mateta. The 28-year-old forward, who was part of the squad that won the FA Cup in 2025, has demonstrated impressive scoring consistency, averaging 15 Premier League goals in each of the last two seasons and accumulating 41 goals in 104 appearances across all competitions during the same two-year period.
Mateta`s contractual situation saw a significant update in December when a contract extension clause was activated. This means he now has two years remaining on his current deal, which is set to conclude in the summer of 2027.
The BBC suggests that it remains unclear whether Crystal Palace will be open to considering any higher bids for Mateta as the summer transfer window progresses.
In parallel, Atalanta is exploring other potential targets to bolster their attacking options. Names being discussed as alternatives include Fulham`s Rodrigo Muniz, Lecce’s Nikola Krstovic, and Genk’s Tolu Arokodare.
The urgency in Atalanta`s pursuit of a new central forward stems from their decision to sell Mateo Retegui, who was the top goalscorer in Serie A during the 2024-25 season. Retegui moved to Saudi Pro League club Al-Qadsiah earlier this summer in a significant transfer valued at €65 million.
Despite undergoing a change in head coaches this summer, Atalanta still retains Gianluca Scamacca within their squad. However, Scamacca spent the majority of the 2024-25 campaign sidelined due to a series of injuries. Furthermore, Ademola Lookman could potentially follow Retegui out of Atalanta, as he is reportedly attracting interest from Inter Milan.