Larsen transfer news: Palace agree £48m deal but Mateta deal in doubt

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AC Milan will make a decision over whether to sign Jean-Philippe Mateta from Crystal Palace on Deadline Day. 

Milan are sending a club doctor to examine Mateta on Monday before proceeding with the deal. The window in England closes at 7pm.

There are also question marks over whether Milan will push ahead with the move in this window considering that Christopher Nkunku does not want to leave.

Nkunku was signed by Milan from Chelsea for £36m last summer and does not want to move to Roma or Fenerbahce as it stands.

Palace have not heard of any issues with Mateta's transfer to AC Milan, Sky Sports News understands.

The Eagles are set to pay a guaranteed £43m plus £5m in add-ons for Wolves' Jorgen Strand Larsen as Mateta's replacement.

That move would open the door for Mateta to join Milan. An agreement was in place for Mateta to join Milan and Palace had given him the green light to complete a medical.

Palace were happy to let Mateta finalise the move after agreeing a deal with Strand Larsen.

It remains to be seen what knock-on effect this development with Mateta could have on Strand Larsen's move.

Oliver Glasner, speaking after Palace's 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest, said "it's either [Mateta] or somebody else" when asked if the striker was staying at Selhurst Park.

Palace negotiated a lower price with Wolves for Strand Larsen after being close to agreeing a fixed fee of £45m plus £5m in add-ons on Thursday.

Leeds had also been interested in Strand Larsen but were unwilling to go above £40m for the 25-year-old and it is understood that the promoted club are unlikely to bring in another striker before the deadline.

Strand Larsen has scored one goal in 22 Premier League appearances this term for bottom club Wolves but impressed at the back end of last season with a run of seven goals in eight games.

Inside Palace's negotiation for Strand Larsen

Sky Sports News' James Savundra:

Palace have managed to negotiate a package with Wolves lower than what was close to being agreed on Thursday.

They were unwilling to commit to the £5m in add-ons that Wolves were attempting to insert into the deal.

The Eagles risked missing out on the transfer but bided their time to negotiate a more favourable deal ahead of Monday's deadline.

Wolves have been adamant that they did not need to sell the Norway striker.

However, both clubs were aware that the player would not be able to fetch anywhere close to £45m in the summer based on Wolves' impending relegation and Strand Larsen's continued on-field struggles.

Therefore, Palace feel they've been able to extract better value from the deal while still paying a premium for a striker in January.

Palace were not actively looking to sell Jean-Philippe Mateta in this transfer window.

However, an impasse in contract negotiations and the Frenchman making clear of his wishes to depart accelerated Palace's transfer plans.

Palace's season hangs on a knife edge. They still have a strong opportunity of adding further silverware to their cabinet via the Conference League, and recording a solid Premier League finish.

However, a nine-match winless run in the top flight means there is work to do to avoid an uncomfortable end to Oliver Glasner's final months in charge.

Analysis: Palace banking on return to form

Sky Sports' Nick Wright:

Twenty-two appearances and yet only one goal scored. Based on Strand Larsen's output this season, the £48m fee appears bewilderingly high.

Crystal Palace are banking on a return to his 2024/25 form, when he scored 14 goals and provided four assists in 35 appearances in his first season in the Premier League.

It was the third top-flight campaign in his career in which Strand Larsen has reached double figures for goals, following a 14-goal season in the Eredivisie with Groningen in 2021/22, and a 13-goal season in La Liga with Celta Vigo in 2023/24.

His record before this season shows goalscoring pedigree, and he appears a good stylistic fit too. Like Jean-Philippe Mateta, he is a tall and strong physical presence against opposition centre-backs, able to act as a target man and offer runs in behind.

He also has room to develop, being three years younger than Mateta at 25. Even so, he may have work to do to convince fans than he can provide value for money at £50m given his struggles this season.

Related: Crystal Palace Wolverhampton Wanderers Milan Nkunku Jean-Philippe Mateta
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