Crystal Palace eye bid to sign Mbappe-like striker to replace £40m Mateta

Crystal Palace are looking at signing a forward who has been compared to Kylian Mbappe to potentially replace Jean-Philippe Mateta this summer.

Crystal Palace salvage draw at Southampton as Glasner rumours circle

The Eagles’ run of five wins in a row in all competitions came to an end on Wednesday evening, with Oliver Glasner’s side needing a stoppage-time equaliser to take a point away from bottom of the Premier League Southampton.

Substitute Matheus Franca netted his first Palace goal to rescue a draw, with Glasner “very pleased” to come away from St Mary’s with something.

“I’m very pleased with the point today. I think we all know that we can play better, but today it was really about never losing the belief and to keep going until the final whistle, and this is what the players did. We were missing a few percentage in every phase of the game and we looked a little bit mentally tired, not at our top [level].”

Glasner then urged everyone at the club to ‘stay humble’: “The second thing today, I think, all Crystal Palace staff and fans can learn is to stay humble, that we can’t take it for granted, going everywhere in England and going home with three points. Every point is a good point and today, for me personally, it’s a very good point.”

Palace are on course for another midtable finish, and there have been rumours about Glasner departing Selhurst Park for RB Leipzig.

Red Bull chief Jurgen Klopp has reportedly made contact with Glasner over a move to Leipzig, however, a fee will be required to take the Austrian away from Palace.

Alongside Glasner, there are also potential departures in the playing squad, including star striker Mateta. The forward has been linked with a move to Man Utd in recent weeks, and by the looks of things, Palace have their eyes on a replacement.

Crystal Palace eyeing move for Ekitike to replace £40m Mateta

Back in 2023, Crystal Palace were linked with a move for Hugo Ekitike when he was somewhat of an unknown figure. Now he is being called the “next Mbappe” after starring in Germany for Eintracht Frankfurt.

Valued at up to £70m, Ekitike is of interest to Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool, however, Palace also have their eyes on the Frenchman.

As per TEAMtalk, Crystal Palace have joined the race for Ekitike and could make an ambitious move

this summer. He appears to be seen as a replacement for Mateta and the report states that ‘Palace would listen to offers in the region of £40m for Mateta’.

The 22-year-old is open to the idea of playing in the Premier League, so a deal could be one to keep an eye on over the coming months.