In case you were wondering about Juventus’ intentions to try and bring in a new striker this month, it looks as though they are very much real and very much trying to happen in relatively quick order.
We know this because Juventus have quickly accelerated their pursuit of Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, reportedly submitting their first bid
for the 28-year-old Frenchman earlier this weekend.And what about said bid? Well, we get some news.
That was the fact that Crystal Palace have rejected
Juventus’ first bid to try and bring Mateta to Turin during the winter transfer window, according to Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio on Sunday. That’s not all that surprising see as Juve’s bid was on loan with an obligation to buy, with a €2 million loan fee for the rest of the 2025-26 season and a €28 million fee come the summertime that is contingent on the Bianconeri qualifying for European competition come the end of the current campaign.
Palace reportedly want a package worth upward of €40 million for Mateta, who has a contract Selhurst Park through 2027.
Juventus and Mateta have already agreed to personal terms, according to Di Marzio and others in the Italian media.
Considering there is a ton of uncertainty at Crystal Palace right now with other standout players set to leave or having already left and their manager unwilling to extend his contract beyond this season, Juventus could very well be trying to strike while the iron is hot and sign the profile of a striker they feel like they desperately need. Plus, there is also Dusan Vlahovic’s status both this season regarding when he comes back from his injury at some point in March — and there’s no real known time when that could happen — as well as the likelihood of him leaving this summer that is factoring into Juve’s decision to pursue Mateta.
Just how much more Juventus will add to their next bid remains to be seen. But the general feeling is that their pursuit of Mateta won’t end with their first bid being rejected by Crystal Palace.
