Latest Nottingham Forest news as Reds eye January transfer window swoop for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta
13:25, 27 Jan 2026Updated 13:26, 27 Jan 2026
Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta is wanted by Nottingham Forest(Image: Getty)
Pundit Simon Jordan has warned Nottingham Forest not to expect Jean-Philippe Mateta to solve all their goalscoring problems.
The Reds have made a £35 million bid for the Crystal Palace striker as they look to further bolster Sean Dyche’s attacking resources. Mateta is reportedly keen to leave Selhurst Park this month and it is said agreeing personal terms over a move to the City Ground would not be a problem.
Palace are reportedly prepared to let the Frenchman go, if they can source a replacement. They also want a package worth in the region of £40m for him.
Mateta has started all 23 of Palace’s Premier League games so far this season and has found the net eight times. However, he has scored only twice in his last 11 league appearances.
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Last season, Mateta bagged 14 goals in 37 league outings. Asked whether he would sell the 28-year-old, former Eagles chairman Jordan said on talkSPORT: “It depends what I’m lining up as a replacement.
“I’m not a fan of Mateta. I think he’s a streaky player that did OK. I think he hit a wicked vein of form last year and looked really good, but prior to that, he – with due respect to Dele – looked like a rich man’s Dele Adebola.
“He didn’t look like a physical athlete. He’s got himself in the French team. I’m not surprised that Wilfried Zaha was laughing at him 18 months ago when he couldn’t even get in Palace’s first team and was having dreams of playing in the French team. So with all that in mind, if Mateta wants to leave, and I’ve got myself (a replacement) lined up…”
Palace are said to have their eye on Jorgen Strand Larsen as a potential replacement for Mateta. Forest also have the Wolverhampton Wanderers forward on their list of possible targets.
“My views on that are clear, but I’m not a scout,” Jordan responded. “I went and watched Jarrod Bowen play for Hull four or five years ago and thought he was not particularly good, so that shuts me right up, doesn’t it?
“At the end of the day, I’ve watched Strand Larsen, I think he’s a donkey. If Palace think he’s something different and they’ve got the replacement… Some would say 18 months ago that Mateta is one and he’s hit a vein of form under Oliver Glasner.
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“Everybody in the end gets what they deserve. You can look at the karma that goes around football and work out where it lands.
“The fact is he wants to leave, he’s entitled to leave, Palace can bank a load of cash from him, buy a new player that wants to come to Crystal Palace and move on. The manager’s going to go, they’ll replace him with another manager that will hopefully keep Palace afloat in the Premier League and order will be returned.”
Forest host Palace at the City Ground on Sunday in an important clash at the bottom end of the table. The Eagles have been struggling for form and are only three points above Sean Dyche’s side, with the potential to get dragged into the battle for survival.
Asked if it would be a problem for Palace to strengthen potential relegation rivals, Jordan added: “It’s not ideal. Ultimately, I think Palace’s main concern, if they’re going to get drawn into a relegation battle, is with West Ham and Burnley at the moment.
“I don’t suppose Palace are running around knocking on Nottingham Forest’s door. I don’t suppose they phoned up their rivals and said, by the way, would you like us to sell you our player?
“They made a bid. What Palace probably would ideally like to do is use that as a stalking horse to be able to jack some other fool up that wants to pay more money for him.”
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