Olympique de Marseille have been offered the chance to sign Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, according to L’Équipe.
The 27-year-old caught the eye of Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi with a standout season in the Premier League.
The Italian tactician is eager to bolster his attacking options ahead of the club’s return to the Champions League and has the Frenchman on his wishlist.
Marseille striker Neal Maupay scored just four goals in 22 league appearances and needs to be replaced.
First-choice striker Amine Gouiri is fantastic, but Marseille need a different profile to complement him.
Mateta was a key figure for Crystal Palace, featuring in 37 of their Premier League fixtures and scoring 14 goals.
He also helped them lift the FA Cup in May, finishing the season with 17 goals and four assists across all competitions.
Despite Marseille’s interest, the financial demands of the deal could prove a stumbling block at this stage.
Mateta joined Palace in 2022 from Bundesliga club Mainz 05 and has since netted 36 times in 116 appearances.
The former Le Havre loanee also represented France at the Paris 2024 Olympics under Thierry Henry. He scored seven goals in eight matches as Les Bleus secured a silver medal.
While there have been whispers of interest from Manchester United, no formal approach has been made.
The Red Devils are targeting Premier League players this summer, and his name was mooted.
With his physical presence, expert hold-up play and ability to operate as a target man, Palace will be desperate to keep hold of their talisman.
Marseille’s Champions League ambitions are clear, but whether they can afford a player of Mateta’s calibre remains to be seen.
