Palace weigh striker future amid Mateta uncertainty
Crystal Palace’s recruitment plans are drifting into view again, with TalkSport reporting that talks have taken place with Wolves over a potential move for Jorgen Strand Larsen. It is a story shaped by timing, contracts and the familiar Premier League tension between ambition and restraint.
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Strand Larsen, valued at around £40m, has been identified as a possible replacement for Jean-Philippe Mateta, who has asked to leave Crystal Palace this month. Aston Villa, Juventus and AC Milan are all monitoring the situation, a reminder that Palace’s best assets rarely remain unexamined for long.
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Wolves links and recruitment logic
The connection is not accidental. Strand Larsen was brought to England by Palace sporting director Matt Hobbs during his time at Molineux, and familiarity can often accelerate deals. Wolves initially signed the Norwegian on loan from Celta Vigo before making the move permanent last summer. His debut Premier League season delivered 14 goals in 35 games, enough to frame him as reliable rather than spectacular.
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Interest has not been limited to Palace. Leeds and Tottenham have tracked him, while Newcastle were previously prepared to offer £60m as a replacement for Alexander Isak. That context matters, even if his current return of one league goal in a struggling Wolves side dulls the shine.
Mateta decision shapes Palace plans
Any move hinges on Mateta’s future. With 18 months left on his contract and talks at a standstill, Palace manager Oliver Glasner has confirmed the club’s position. “There will be a price that Crystal Palace [accept], with 18 months left on his contract. We’d do the deal, if JP wants. If nobody pays that price, then he will stay,” he said.
Mateta’s motivation is also personal. His ambition to represent France at this summer’s World Cup has sharpened his focus, particularly after scoring in his last two appearances for Les Bleus under Didier Deschamps.
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Calculated risk in January window
A move to Selhurst Park is presented as suiting all parties, with Wolves open to a sale and the striker keen on a fresh start. Yet January rarely offers clean solutions. Palace must decide whether Strand Larsen represents continuity or compromise, a striker who fits the league but arrives with questions attached.
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The logic is easy to follow, Mateta wants out, Palace need a forward who knows the league, and Strand Larsen ticks that box. But familiarity does not always equal progress. Paying around £40m for a striker with one league goal this season feels like a move driven by availability rather than conviction.
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Supporters have seen this pattern before. Palace sell a forward at peak value, reinvest sensibly, and aim to stay competitive. The worry here is whether sensible quietly slips into safe. Strand Larsen’s 14 goal debut season was solid, not transformative, and Wolves’ current struggles underline that he does not carry a team on his own.
There is also unease about timing. January deals often arrive with urgency baked in, and Palace fans know that rushed decisions can linger for seasons. If Mateta leaves, replacing him should feel like a step forward in style and output, not merely a like for like exchange.
Scepticism does not mean rejection. It means wanting clarity. If Palace are to cash in on Mateta, supporters will expect a signing that lifts the ceiling, not one that simply maintains the floor.
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