Crystal Palace eyeing move to sign 21-year-old striker
Crystal Palace Eye Emegha as Mateta Exit Looms
Strategic planning shapes summer outlook
Crystal Palace, a club that once drifted between the mundane and the merely functional, now finds itself wrestling with an unfamiliar dilemma: how to build upon success without surrendering the very forces that made it possible.
Photo: IMAGO
According to TeamTalk, Jean-Philippe Mateta — the oft-overlooked striker turned FA Cup hero — is now the object of desire for some of Europe's heavyweights. The likes of Inter Milan, Bayern Munich and Manchester United are circling, drawn by his resurgence under Oliver Glasner and Palace's recent qualification for the Europa League.
Advertisement
His potential departure, however, has not caught the club flat-footed. Palace have long been tracking Strasbourg's Emanuel Emegha, a 21-year-old Dutch striker whose profile seems engineered for Premier League disruption. With 14 goals and three assists in Ligue 1, Emegha's mix of athleticism and composure has earned admirers across the continent.
Photo IMAGO
Emegha fits evolving tactical mould
What makes Emegha more than a statistical substitute is his fit within Glasner's system. A source told TeamTalk that Palace believe he 'could slot seamlessly' into the current set-up — not merely filling a hole, but continuing the forward momentum Glasner has instilled. It's not just about goals, but about function, movement, and press-resistance.
Photo: IMAGO
Palace navigate European interest
There's a realism at Selhurst Park, though. Mateta's price tag stands at around £29.4m, and while his recent form justifies such a valuation, Palace also recognise the reality of market forces. The same €35m figure is understood to be enough to prise Emegha away from Strasbourg, effectively creating a transfer loop with symmetry and simplicity.
Photo IMAGO
Decisions define direction
The real question is whether this is evolution or regression. Does replacing Mateta with Emegha represent progression or the start of another rebuild? Palace may have won silverware, but now come the tougher choices — how to stay relevant while keeping their best assets intact.
Our View – EPL Index Analysis
This update will trigger mixed emotions amongst Palace supporters. On the one hand, being linked with a bright prospect like Emanuel Emegha is a clear sign that the club is scouting ambitiously and thinking ahead. But on the other, the idea of losing Jean-Philippe Mateta just as he hits his stride feels like déjà vu.
Advertisement
There's a growing concern that Palace, despite their Europa League qualification and FA Cup success, could be poised to repeat past mistakes — selling a key player at a crucial moment. Mateta has become more than a goalscorer; he's emblematic of this new, fearless Palace side under Glasner.
Photo: IMAGO
Yes, Emegha looks exciting, but fans are wary of disruption. Replacing Mateta is not simply a numbers game. It's about dressing room chemistry, tactical familiarity and momentum. Emegha could thrive, or he could take time to settle. In the meantime, Palace risk losing the sharp edge that took them to Europe.
If Mateta stays, fans will feel the club is building on strength. If he goes, many will wonder whether this summer's rebuild is one step forward and two steps back.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Liverpool to make offer for €60m centre-back within DAYS
Liverpool secured Virgil van Dijk to a contract renewal before the end of the season. With the Dutchman's previous terms expiring in summer 2025, sporting director Richard Hughes ensured continuity at centre-back by having Van Dijk commit until 2027. That gives the Reds a degree of security in making their defensive plans but all around Van Dijk there is uncertainty. We could see Jarell Quansah and Joe Gomez LEAVE in this transfer window, reducing the number of available centre-backs by two. Advertisement Those sales would leave Liverpool with ONLY Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate as options in the heart of defence. But the captain turns 34 this summer and won't be around forever, while the Merseysiders have also got a problem to solve with Konate. The Frenchman, 26, is out of contract next year and if no agreement is reached over a renewal then he too could be sold. In this context it is wise for Richard Hughes and Arne Slot to be looking at the market for new defenders. Diomande back on the radar Their search has now reportedly taken them back to Portugal, where Ousmane Diomande is once again in focus. Diomande, 21, has just won the Portuguese league and cup double with his side, earning the plaudits for another solid season's work. Advertisement The Ivory Coast international is now attracting transfer attention from the Premier League - with A Bola disclosing that Crystal Palace have got the former Midtjylland stopper on their list to replace Marc Guehi. 'The Premier League club sought to find out the amount to buy the central defender from Alvalade and received the answer immediately: the Lions will only sit at the negotiating table for amounts of around €60 million,' the report reads. But intriguingly it's added that several other Premier League clubs - Liverpool included - have also taken this 'first step' towards signing Diomande. Liverpool could make Diomande offer 'Crystal Palace, by the way, were not the only ones to take this first step towards Diomande,' the report continues. Advertisement 'Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United, as well as Bayern Munich (interest dating back to January) have not lost sight of the centre-back and could make an offer in the coming days.' Diomande is under contract until 2027 having joined Sporting from Danish side Midtjylland in 2023. He has played 101 times for Sporting, scoring six goals and adding two assists. On FOTMOB he ranks highly for recoveries and duels won - while his aerial duel percentage is solid at around 65 percent.
San Francisco Chronicle
38 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Kane saves England from embarrassment against Andorra in World Cup qualifying
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — England needed a second-half goal from Harry Kane to secure a 1-0 win over lowly Andorra and maintain a perfect record under Thomas Tuchel after three World Cup qualifiers on Saturday. England was held scoreless by a team ranked 173rd in the world until Kane redirected a pass from Noni Madueke into the top of the net in the 50th minute after the Bayern Munich striker's initial effort was saved by goalkeeper Iker Álvarez. 'We need to be better for sure,' Kane said. 'It's not one that many will remember, and we had good spells, but we take the three points and move on.' It was goal No. 72 in his 106th appearance for the Three Lions. Tuchel's side remained top of Europe's Group K with nine points after wins against Albania and Latvia. They have yet to concede a goal under the German coach. Andorra remained winless but managed to frustrate England's stars for most of the game with its five-man defensive line. Ezri Konsa had to block a late shot by Andorra's Guillaume Lopez to prevent the chance of an equalizer. 'We kept giving it away and that gave them a bit of confidence and energy,' Kane said. "At 1-0 with five to 10 minutes to go you have to be careful.' England dominated possession and Eberechi Eze went close to a second goal when he forced Álvarez to tip his header of the bar as the visitors couldn't extend the lead. England had won its previous six meetings with Andorra by a combined score of 25-0. The game was played at Espanyol's stadium in Barcelona, nearly three hours south of the Pyrenees principality — which has a population of around 80,000 — due to concerns that work on Andorra's home stadium wouldn't be finished in time. Only the group winners qualify directly for next year's tournament in North America. The second-placed teams go into a playoffs. Europe will have 16 teams in the expanded 48-team field for the World Cup. The group stage of European qualifying runs through November. Veteran Dzeko scores for Bosnia A goal from 39-year-old Edin Dzeko gave Bosnia and Herzegovina a 1-0 win over San Marino. Lithuania was held 0-0 at Malta in Group G. ___
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
Kane saves England from embarrassment against Andorra in World Cup qualifying
Associated Press BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — England needed a second-half goal from Harry Kane to secure a 1-0 win over lowly Andorra and maintain a perfect record under Thomas Tuchel after three World Cup qualifiers on Saturday. England was held scoreless by a team ranked 173rd in the world until Kane redirected a pass from Noni Madueke into the top of the net in the 50th minute after the Bayern Munich striker's initial effort was saved by goalkeeper Iker Alvarez. 'We need to be better for sure,' Kane said. 'It's not one that many will remember, and we had good spells, but we take the three points and move on.' It was goal No. 72 in his 106th appearance for the Three Lions. Tuchel's side remained top of Europe's Group K with nine points after wins against Albania and Latvia. They have yet to concede a goal under the German coach. Andorra remained winless but managed to frustrate England's stars for most of the game with its five-man defensive line. Ezri Konsa had to block a late shot by Andorra's Guillaume Lopez to prevent the chance of an equalizer. 'We kept giving it away and that gave them a bit of confidence and energy,' Kane said. "At 1-0 with five to 10 minutes to go you have to be careful.' England dominated possession and Eberechi Eze went close to a second goal when he forced Álvarez to tip his header of the bar as the visitors couldn't extend the lead. England had won its previous six meetings with Andorra by a combined score of 25-0. The game was played at Espanyol's stadium in Barcelona, nearly three hours south of the Pyrenees principality — which has a population of around 80,000 — due to concerns that work on Andorra's home stadium wouldn't be finished in time. Only the group winners qualify directly for next year's tournament in North America. The second-placed teams go into a playoffs. Europe will have 16 teams in the expanded 48-team field for the World Cup. The group stage of European qualifying runs through November. England will next host Senegal in a friendly on Tuesday. Veteran Dzeko scores for Bosnia A goal from 39-year-old Edin Dzeko gave Bosnia and Herzegovina a 1-0 win over San Marino. The Balkan republic leads Group H with three wins, while San Marino is bottom with zero points. Lithuania was held 0-0 at Malta in Group G. ___ AP soccer: recommended
