Tottenham monitoring “amazing” international forward with 11 G/A this season

France's Maghnes Akliouche and Jean-Philippe Mateta. (REUTERS/Benoit Tessier)

Tottenham returned to winning ways at the weekend, finally snapping a five-match run without victory.

That difficult spell — which included defeats to Arsenal, PSG and Fulham — had sparked growing concern around Thomas Frank’s side. But a 2–0 win over Brentford at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium offered some much-needed relief.

Xavi Simons delivered a standout display, setting up Richarlison for the opener before scoring a brilliant solo goal to seal the points. Yet despite the win, it’s clear Spurs still need reinforcements when January arrives, particularly in the final third.

And now they’ve identified one forward in particular.

Tottenham are keeping a close eye on Jean-Philippe Mateta’s situation at Crystal Palace, with the striker’s contract talks reportedly stuck at a standstill.

According to Football Insider, Spurs are actively searching for a new No.9 in the upcoming window, and Mateta has emerged as a serious option. Palace are said to be growing increasingly concerned, with negotiations over an extension making no meaningful progress.

With his deal running only until 2027, the club could be pushed into a decision sooner rather than later.

Sources claim Mateta is now viewed as a January priority for Tottenham as they look to add a reliable goalscorer to ease the burden on their current attacking options.

Oliver Glasner has previously described the French international as “amazing,” and the numbers back it up. Mateta has produced nine goals and two assists already this season, building on tallies of 17 and 19 goals in his previous two campaigns.

His form has earned him recognition with the French national team and placed him firmly in contention for the 2026 World Cup.

With Spurs actively searching for firepower and Palace facing a contract impasse, Mateta could become one of the window’s most intriguing storylines.

Barnaby Lane is a highly experienced sports writer who has written for The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, Sports Illustrated, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider.

Over the years, he's had the pleasure of interviewing some of the biggest names in world sport, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and more.