Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has confirmed that striker Jean-Philippe Mateta will not feature in Sunday's match against Nottingham Forest due to his transfer status.
The 28-year-old France international, who is Palace's top scorer this season with eight Premier League goals, continues to be linked with a move away from the club, despite having initially expressed a desire to stay at Selhurst Park.
AC Milan have accelerated their interest in Mateta after enquiring about him in January. However, Palace want a fee of £40m for the striker, while Forest had previously offered £35m.
Glasner believes that Mateta is not in the right place to play and that he needs to protect his player's mental health. The manager has called on fans to focus on football rather than speculation about the player's future.
Mateta's absence from the squad is not just due to transfer talks, but also because of the intense media attention surrounding his situation. Glasner has warned against the dangers of "football noise" and the need for players to be able to concentrate on their work without distraction.
Despite Mateta's expected absence, Palace are working hard to strengthen their squad before Monday's deadline day. The club signed Evann Guessand from Aston Villa on loan with an option to make the move permanent in a bid to bolster their attacking options.
Palace have already sold captain Marc Guehi to Manchester City during the winter window and now face the challenge of finding a replacement for the England international before the transfer deadline.
The 28-year-old France international, who is Palace's top scorer this season with eight Premier League goals, continues to be linked with a move away from the club, despite having initially expressed a desire to stay at Selhurst Park.
AC Milan have accelerated their interest in Mateta after enquiring about him in January. However, Palace want a fee of £40m for the striker, while Forest had previously offered £35m.
Glasner believes that Mateta is not in the right place to play and that he needs to protect his player's mental health. The manager has called on fans to focus on football rather than speculation about the player's future.
Mateta's absence from the squad is not just due to transfer talks, but also because of the intense media attention surrounding his situation. Glasner has warned against the dangers of "football noise" and the need for players to be able to concentrate on their work without distraction.
Despite Mateta's expected absence, Palace are working hard to strengthen their squad before Monday's deadline day. The club signed Evann Guessand from Aston Villa on loan with an option to make the move permanent in a bid to bolster their attacking options.
Palace have already sold captain Marc Guehi to Manchester City during the winter window and now face the challenge of finding a replacement for the England international before the transfer deadline.
He's such an important player, but it looks like his mental health is getting affected by all this speculation 
. It's not healthy for players to be under that kind of pressure all the time.
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. It's not like they need him that much anymore, you know?
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The manager is right, though - mental health and focus are super important in football, especially for players. It's not fair to put pressure on them with all the speculation going on. 
And honestly, £40m is a pretty steep price tag... if Milan and Forest can't agree on that, maybe Palace should just wait for someone else to make an offer? 
. As a manager, Glasner is trying to protect his player, but it's tough when the fans are so invested in what's happening with Mateta.
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, I feel bad for Mateta, he's been doing great this season but it seems like Palace is just worried about making money from him rather than helping him achieve his goals 
it's like they're not even human anymore... anyway, I hope Mateta can get out of this situation soon and find a team where he can thrive 
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... I mean, I get it, mental health is super important, but come on, £40m is a pretty penny to pay for some "protection" 
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... it's one thing to be linked with a move away, but it feels like he's already half gone before we've even had a chance to say goodbye 
. I know Glasner is trying to keep him focused, but it's hard not to take it personally when you're stuck on the bench watching your teammates get all the love 
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... Evann Guessand could be a great addition to the squad if he can prove himself 
️ It's like, what if Palace don't sign anyone else before Monday? 
, but they need to find someone who's gonna fit in with the team's style of play, you know? Guessand might be a decent signing, but it's not like he's Mateta or anything 
. And can't they just sell Guehi and use that money to get someone in ASAP? It feels like they're putting all their eggs in one basket right now 
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. I get what Glasner is saying about mental health and all that, but can't we just focus on the football? It's like every move he makes is under a microscope 
. The club needs to strengthen its squad, especially with Guehi gone 
. On the bright side, AC Milan is willing to pay top dollar for Mateta, so if he does leave, Palace should get a pretty penny