The Premier League standings place them ninth, yet they are only five points adrift of Manchester City who occupy second place.

Mateta represents another Palace success story

With their recent first-ever FA Cup triumph and a Charity Shield win, it's been an excellent period for the South London club.

One player who has played a crucial role in their achievements over recent years is the powerful striker, Jean-Philippe Mateta.

The 28-year-old French forward is a classic type of attacker: strong, hard to dispossess, and dominant in the air; while he may lack finesse, he compensates with his goal-scoring ability.

Mateta has already scored seven goals in 13 league appearances this season and has also found the net in one of Palace’s European fixtures, marking another club milestone.

His dedication is unquestionable

Since transferring from Mainz five years ago, the striker has netted 45 league goals, added nine in domestic cups, and scored once in the Europa Conference League.

While these numbers might not seem extraordinary to some, his overall contribution must be considered when judging his importance to the team.

His commitment is evident, especially given the severe injury he sustained against Millwall during last season’s FA Cup run. Despite requiring 25 stitches, Mateta returned to play within weeks, wearing a specially adapted water polo-style headband to minimize discomfort.

Indeed, the fact that the Eagles are already seeking to extend his contract speaks volumes; however, the process might not be as straightforward as the club hopes.

Mateta’s World Cup performance could influence his future

Although initial talks reportedly went well, Mateta has yet to fully commit to Palace and is believed to be waiting to see how he performs for France at the upcoming World Cup before deciding his next move.

Having recently broken into Didier Deschamps’ squad, he has scored two goals in three matches and offers Les Bleus a unique option.

Reports also suggest the player may be considering a transfer to Serie A, with AC Milan as a potential destination.

Palace manager Oliver Glasner’s contract expires after the 2025/26 season, which could also affect Mateta’s decision.

Glasner dissatisfied with transfer strategy

Although the Austrian coach has not indicated any desire to leave, his comments earlier this season may have upset Palace chairman Steve Parish.

"We missed a couple of opportunities in July and August, during the transfer window, to make things easier for us, but we will stay united and improve," he was quoted saying.

"Playing European football for the first time in our history means we should invest, not save. I think January is too late since by then we will have played over half our matches.

"Everything was quite clear, and I didn’t say anything before, but I think it’s time to address that we missed the chance to have an even better season during the summer."

Combined with losing key players, it seems Palace are taking one step forward and two steps back.

Palace might push Mateta to reveal his true allegiance

At 28, Mateta is supposedly at his peak and likely has one more major transfer ahead in his career.

With Milan leading Serie A and having lost only once this season, the appeal is clear.

The player can also consider recent examples such as Scott McTominay, Kevin De Bruyne and Rasmus Hojlund, who moved from the Premier League to Italy and significantly improved their performances (De Bruyne’s injury aside).

Mateta only needs to look at how well a similarly built player, Romelu Lukaku, has fared since playing there.

It speaks well of Palace that when their top players depart, they do so with the club’s support. Furthermore, as shown by Olise and Eze, their stars continue to excel despite a noticeable increase in squad quality and depth.

Perhaps Mateta will believe that opportunities come rarely, and if he misses this chance, another might not arise.

Parish and the board could at least match any rival contract offers to gauge where Mateta’s true loyalty lies.

Even if that fails, both sides can take comfort in having shared a successful and joyful football journey.