Chelsea among clubs monitoring Premier League striker

Chelsea make the trip to the south coast to face Brighton and Hove Albion in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday night. 

Enzo Maresca’s side have now won two of their last three Premier League matches, having failed to win any of their previous five games in the competition.

The Blues returned to fourth spot in the league table with a 2-1 win over rivals West Ham United on Monday night, and Maresca will hope to see his side progress past the Seagulls on Saturday.

In the meantime, though, it appears that Chelsea are keeping tabs on a Premier League striker.

As reported by TBR Football, the Blues are one of a number of Premier League sides monitoring Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta.

The French striker has been in fine form for the Eagles over the past 18 m months, netting 19 times last term before adding another 13 goals to his tally so far this season.

Mateta has attracted interest from Chelsea and Man City

Mateta, 27, joined Palace on loan from German side Mainz in 2021, before making his move to Selhurst Park permanent in January 2022.

He has since scored 42 goals in 138 games for the London side and was due to enter into the final 18 months of his current contract with the club before Palace triggered a 12-month extension meaning his deal now expires in 2027.

Only Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak, Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer have scored more goals in the Premier League since Oliver Glasner took charge of Palace in February last year.

The report claims that seven English top flight clubs, including Chelsea, Manchester United and Newcastle United, are currently monitoring the forward as he nears the end of his contract.

West Ham United, Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest are named as the other Premier League sides keeping tabs on the Frenchman, who was part of the France squad for the Olympic Games last summer.