Long in the sights of ASSE, Jean-Philippe Mateta, hitherto blocked by Crystal Palace, who would have made a big decision on Monday.
ASSE Mercato: Agreement between Crystal Palace and Mateta
This is one of the hottest issues of this winter at AS Saint Etienne. After the arrival of Pascal Dupraz on the Stéphanois bench, the leaders of the Loire have set as their main objective for the month of January, the strengthening of the offensive sector. After multiple leads all over Europe, it’s on the French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta that the Greens have set their sights, forcing Crystal Palace to let their player slip away.
Despite a significant rapprochement between the two clubs in mid-January, the striker went through Olympique Lyonnais has still not joined ASSE. If the Greens still had slim hopes of enlisting Mateta this winter, the Crystal Palace club would have finally decided otherwise. This Monday, the Premier League team decided to extend its striker, yet deemed undesirable a few weeks ago. If the player was once pushed out by Patrick Vieira, his last good performances with the Eagles would have changed the 1998 world champion’s mind.
As journalist David Ornstein advances on Twitter, the current 13th in the Premier League would have decided to exercise the call option of Mateta this Monday. Loaned this season to England by Mainz in the Bundesliga, the Frenchman will therefore continue his adventure at Palace. The English club paid the 11 million euros requested by Mainz to secure the services of the player. A decision which therefore puts an end to the Mateta track at AS Saint-Etienne.
The Greens have since directed their search towards other attackers and even completed the arrival of Enzo Crivelli on Monday in 6 month loan. In addition to Crivelli, Sainté could also enlist a right-back before the end of the winter transfer window.
Falaye Sacko announced to ASSE
In addition to Crivelli, Pascal Dupraz could see his right lane of defense reinforced by the arrival of a Malian international. According to the Portuguese press, Falaye Sacko (26), defender at Vitoria Guimaraes would be one step away from joining Forez. Saint-Etienne and the player have already reached an agreement in principle and the Portuguese club have already recruited his replacement. An official announcement should be made in the next few hours.