Crystal Palace have informed Jean-Philippe Mateta's suitors that the in-form striker is not for sale this summer. Mateta finished last season in scintillating form which he took to the Paris Olympics, where he starred for France en route to winning a silver medal.
The 27-year-old scored once in the quarter-final, twice in the semi-final and once again in the final as Thierry Henry's French outfit narrowly lost out to Spain in the gold-medal match.
Mateta's heroics came after netting 19 times in all competitions for Palace last season, with a barnstorming run of goals following Oliver Glasner's appointment as manager.
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Clubs from the Premier League and overseas have registered their interest in Mateta this summer. However, Express Sport understands that Palace are intent on keeping their star striker and have promptly turned suitors away.
Glasner and the Palace hierarchy view Mateta as a key part of their project and talks have taken place over an extension to his contract, which runs until the summer of 2026.
Aston Villa made contact with Palace and Mateta's camp earlier this summer to explore the conditions of a summer move. But the chances of Villa testing the Eagles' resolve, in spite of their reluctance to sell the striker, rest on the sale of Jhon Duran.
Ollie Watkins will start this season as Unai Emery's first-choice forward but there could be an opening for a back-up striker if Duran and Cameron Archer both make way over the final two weeks of the summer transfer window.
Mateta is content at Selhurst Park but the prospect of playing Champions League football would be a head-turner. The 6ft 4in marksman also hopes that his goal-laden Olympics run will be enough to see him earn his first caps for France's fully-fledged international side in September.
Mateta came through the ranks in his homeland before scoring 27 goals in 71 games for German side Mainz. Palace snapped him up for £8million in January 2022.
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Palace are under no pressure to sell their top players after allowing Michael Olise to join Bayern Munich for £51m. The sale of Marc Guehi would also raise a significant chunk of cash, with Newcastle United in hot pursuit.
Glasner has sought to bolster his squad by signing Ismaila Sarr from Marseille, Chadi Riad from Real Betis and Daichi Kamada from Lazio so far this summer.
