According to L'Équipe, Juventus has officially opened negotiations with Crystal Palace regarding a transfer for French forward Jean-Philippe Mateta.
The deal is set to submit an initial offer soon—structured as a loan with an obligation to buy, totaling no less than €25 million.
Mateta, who is 28 years old, has a contract running until 2027 and has delivered consistent performances for Crystal Palace this season.
Reports indicate that Juventus originally intended to wait until the summer (after Vlahović’s contract expires) before making a move, but fears that Premier League rivals might snatch him during the winter window have prompted them to act early.
Mateta himself is open to a winter departure: with less than five months remaining until the French national team departs for the United States on June 9 for the World Cup, he hopes a transfer will secure him more playing time and boost his chances of being selected for the squad.