Crystal Palace have had an offer of around €15.5m for Jean-Philippe Mateta rejected, according to reports.
Goals proved to be a real issue for the Eagles last season. Only bottom club Norwich City (26) scored less than Palace (31). It’s clear to see why Roy Hodgson is keen to add a striker to his ranks.
Mateta appears to be his number one target. The 23-year-old only managed 18 games in the Bundesliga this season due to injuries, but his form from 2018/19 proves Mateta could be the answer.
Mateta played 11 times for France U21s but is yet to make his senior debut for Les Bleus. He scored once at the Euro U21 Championships last summer.
Despite having their first offer rejected, Palace are expected to return with an improved bid fairly quickly, reports The Guardian.
Important Palace quartet all commit to new contracts
As well as trying to add to the squad. Palace have been busy ensuring the future of current players. James McArthur, Jeffrey Schlupp, Martin Kelly and Stephen Henderson have all extended their contracts at Crystal Palace.
Palace, who finished 14th in the Premier League under manager Roy Hodgson last season, have not disclosed the lengths of the new deals.
Long-serving midfielder McArthur has made 210 appearances for the Eagles since joining from Wigan in 2014. We exclusively revealed earlier this week he was poised to stay on. The versatile Schlupp has played 97 times following his move from Leicester in 2017.
England cap Kelly has clocked up 145 outings having arrived from Liverpool six years ago. Back-up goalkeeper Henderson is still awaiting his Palace debut.
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