Is Crystal Palace finished? The captain is being poached, the head coach is demanding to leave at a press conference, and the top striker is also up for sale.

Financially struggling Premier League clubs find it very hard to keep their key players, which makes maintaining steady performance almost impossible. Crystal Palace, as reigning champions, suffered an embarrassing FA Cup first-round defeat to a sixth-division side, bringing shame to the club and supporters. This shocking upset has also dampened the locker room atmosphere. Manchester City is set to sign Crystal Palace’s captain Guehi in the January transfer window, while the relationship between coach Guus Hiddink and chairman Steve Parish is strained, with the coach announcing his intention to leave early at a press conference. Now, with the top striker also likely to be sold, it seems Crystal Palace’s days are numbered.

According to journalist Orazio Accomando, Serie A giants Juventus are willing to trigger a mandatory purchase clause for Crystal Palace’s 28-year-old French center-forward Mateta if they qualify for the Champions League. The Old Lady has already made an offer to Crystal Palace, proposing a loan deal in January followed by a compulsory buy in the summer, contingent on Champions League qualification. Both clubs are actively negotiating, with some disagreement over the fee, but Mateta appears inclined to accept the move to Juventus.

Mateta, 28 years old and standing 1.92 meters tall, is a right-footed center-forward valued at €40 million by Transfermarkt, having scored 8 goals in 21 Premier League appearances this season. With his physique and skills, a successful transfer to Juventus would make him a strong focal point and a powerful striker for the Old Lady. If Crystal Palace lose both Guehi and Mateta, the conflict-ridden duo, it is highly likely that coach Guus Hiddink will also depart. Poor recruitment combined with losing key players is the toughest situation for any head coach.