West Ham are keeping close tabs on Jean-Philippe Mateta’s contract situation at Crystal Palace, according to reports.

The Frenchman’s current deal at Selhurst Park expires in 2027 but TBRFootball claim that discussions about extending his stay with the Eagles have not gone well.

Mateta is said to regard himself as one of the best strikers in the Premier League, having scored 17 times in all competitions this season.

The 27-year-old believes his new contract should reflect that status and that has subsequently led to a breakdown in negotiations.

West Ham are among 4 Premier League teams pursuing the forward

TBRFootball reports that the Hammers, Everton, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United are all “admirers” of Mateta.

They go further by saying that one of those teams (Man United) have even “held talks” with the player himself.

It is still felt that Mateta would prefer to remain with Palace and sign an extension, but with no progress being made, it seems there is a chance that he could leave the Eagles in the near future.

Mateta would be a perfect fit for Potter

Even though it has been suggested that West Ham have made a breakthrough in their search for a new No.9, with an agreement within reach to secure the services of Lille’s Jonathan David on a free transfer, there is said to be hesitation about going through with the deal.

The main reason for that is Graham Potter’s belief that he needs a true No.9 to lead the line. In that context, the interest in Mateta makes a lot of sense.

As well as being a prolific scorer over the past couple of seasons, the forward has shown his capabilities when holding up the ball. He is a handful for any opposing defender. We shall see if the Irons do make a formal approach to secure Mateta’s services over the coming weeks.

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