Glasner confirms Crystal Palace drop Mateta for Forest clash, fuelling Milan speculation

Crystal Palace coach Oliver Glasner confirms Milan target Jean-Philippe Mateta won’t be part of the squad for Sunday’s Premier League match against Nottingham Forest: ‘He doesn’t feel in the right place right now to play.’

Crystal Palace have omitted Mateta from their squad list for their upcoming Premier League match at Nottingham Forest.

Palace have reportedly reached an agreement with Milan over a €30m transfer, and the Rossoneri are pushing to welcome the French striker at San Siro before the end of the January transfer window.

“I can confirm that JP [Mateta] will not be in the matchday squad, but it’s nothing to do right now with a transfer – it’s just he doesn’t feel in the right place right now to play, and it makes no sense because we have to protect the team, I have to protect him. That’s why he will not travel with us to Nottingham,” Palace coach Glasner said via the club’s official website.

According to Gazzetta, Mateta has already reached an agreement with Milan and prefers a move to San Siro over joining Nottingham Forest.

Crystal Palace, however, need to sign a replacement before letting Mateta move to Italy, while the Rossoneri might need to sell Christopher Nkunku, who has reportedly attracted interest from Roma.

Milan already signed one striker, Niclas Fullkrug, from West Ham in the January transfer window.

Mateta has netted ten times in 34 appearances across all competitions with Crystal Palace this season.