Jean-Philippe Mateta stance on Aston Villa transfer shared after Crystal Palace exit update
Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta will view a transfer to Aston Villa before the August deadline as a “risk”, according to Alan Hutton.
Reports have suggested that Unai Emery’s side are considering a move for the Frenchman having reached out to the forward’s camp after contract talks stalled at Selhurst Park [The Express, 30 July].
Ollie Watkins looks set to remain at Villa Park beyond deadline day, but Jhon Duran is still understood to be of interest to West Ham and should he leave, Emery will be down to his bare bones in terms of strikers [Alex Crook, 4 August].
Although Hutton believes a move for Mateta would make sense if the Colombian does exit, he admits that he isn’t convinced the Palace man will be willing to play second fiddle to Watkins week in and week out.
“If Duran was to leave then I could get more on board,” Hutton exclusively told Villa News.
“It’s going to be a big fee. You see Michail Olise leaving for big money, Eberechi Eze possibly leaving for big money and now Mateta.
“I thought he had an excellent season and he ripped it up at the Olympics.
“He’s a big target and I think he would be a great addition to the team but the only thing I would say is, he will see himself as a starter.
“So he’ll be coming to Aston Villa to play second fiddle to Ollie Watkins, who again had an outstanding season and did his bit in the Euros, he’s the number one striker.
“Are you willing to sit on the bench and possibly play second fiddle? Of course, you have to back yourself and he’ll probably believe that he can be a starter.
“But are you willing to take that risk? It’s an interesting one so we will have to wait and see.”
Will Jean-Philippe Mateta exit Crystal Palace amid Aston Villa transfer rumours?
Villa were always going to find it hard to sign a new number nine this summer unless Watkins departed, as few players who are ready to play Champions League football will be willing to play second fiddle.
Mateta has shown over the last eight months or so that he is more than capable of playing for a team competing at the highest level, but he if he is to exit Palace, he will want to start every match for his new club.
Perhaps Emery would be willing to play the two forwards together in a strike partnership, but the Villa boss very rarely ever deployed Watkins and Duran together so that would be unlikely to change now.
Maybe the opportunity to play in the Champions League will be too good for the 27-year-old to turn down if the two clubs can agree on a fee, but at the moment it feels unlikely that this deal will happen.
In other Aston Villa news, Duran has been told to “stay quiet” at Villa Park after new transfer developments at West Ham United
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