Mateta Move to Milan Breaks Down – Will Crystal Palace Still Sign Strand Larsen?

AC Milan have pulled out of a deal to sign Jean-Philippe Mateta from Crystal Palace.

The reason for the Serie A club walking away from the deal is understood to be centred around concerns that emerged during medical checks.

Palace now look set to keep Mateta at least until the end of the January window, with loan interest emerging from elsewhere.

AC Milan pull out of Jean-Philippe Mateta transfer

Mateta agreed terms with Milan earlier this week and was due to undergo additional medical tests in London in a deal worth more than €30 million.

However, those checks raised enough concern for Milan to step away from the transfer.

The 28-year-old has been managing a knee issue, which Palace have been carefully monitoring in recent weeks.

The problem was a factor in Palace’s decision to leave Mateta out of their FA Cup defeat to Macclesfield, which was played on a 3G pitch.

Milan ultimately decided not to proceed, leaving the deal dead ahead of Monday night’s deadline.

Mateta has been carrying a knee complaint for a period of time, though it has not prevented him from featuring regularly this season.

He has made 34 appearances in all competitions, scoring 10 goals, but was not included in Palace’s squad vs Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Oliver Glasner insisted at the time that the omission was not linked to transfer speculation.

“He’s not in the right place to play,” Glasner said on Friday. “It has nothing to do with a transfer.”

The club are still working on a deal worth £43 million plus £5m in add-ons for the Wolves striker, with negotiations continuing as planned.

Palace have been open to reshaping their forward line this month, particularly with Mateta entering the final 18 months of his contract.

Talks over a new deal have been ongoing since before last summer, but no agreement has been reached.

While Milan have walked away, other clubs are now exploring the possibility of signing Mateta on loan before the window closes.

The French striker has been unsettled for some time, with his long-term future at Selhurst Park unclear.

Since joining from Mainz in 2022, he has scored 56 goals in 186 appearances and played a key role in Palace’s FA Cup triumph last season.

For now, Palace are preparing for the possibility that he remains part of Glasner’s squad beyond deadline day.

Whether he stays or leaves on loan, his fitness and contract situation look set to remain central issues for the club in the months ahead.