Aston Villa have expressed interest in Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, with the south London club weighing up a move in the opposite direction for Evann Guessand.
The Midlands side are assessing options to reinforce their attack under head coach Unai Emery, with the French international among the names under consideration.
As revealed by The Athletics, Mateta is part of a shortlist that also includes Tammy Abraham, as Villa look to add depth to their front line. Talks with Besiktas over Abraham have so far failed to reach an agreement, even after Villa officials travelled to Turkey last month in an attempt to finalise a deal ahead of the Istanbul derby against Fenerbahce.
Crystal Palace’s focus on Evann Guessand forms part of a broader reshuffle in Oliver Glasner’s squad. The 24-year-old joined Villa from FC Nantes in the summer but has struggled to make an impact in the Premier League, failing to score in 13 appearances.
Mateta has started all 22 of Palace’s Premier League matches this season, scoring eight times. Interest in the striker has not been limited to England. Juventus asked about his availability last week, but that approach did not progress.
The Serie A side were unwilling to meet Palace’s valuation of €40 million, a figure they considered unrealistic. The Italian club also raised concerns about Mateta’s age, his contract situation, and the prospect of a high agent fee.
Palace activated a one-year extension in December 2024, pushing Mateta’s deal through to June 2027. That decision has strengthened their negotiating position, even as European clubs continue to monitor his situation.
With Villa assessing attacking options and Palace open to reshaping their squad, discussions around Mateta and Guessand are expected to remain active as the window progresses.
