There has been no love between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest since this summer, when UEFA kicked the London team out of the Europa League, and the two-time champion of the Old Continent stepped in instead.
Jean-Philippe Mateta, a fan favorite from Selhurst Park, could add even more to the mix if he were to strengthen Forest.
The French striker had previously informed Palace's top brass that he wanted to go, and Nottingham were quick to react, splashing out £35m for the lad whose goals had taken the club from the relegation zone to a historic FA Cup triumph.
The problem is that Crystal Palace do not want to sell Mateta without an adequate replacement, and according to the Guardian, they are asking for a package worth up to £40 million, even though the 28-year-old's contract expires in less than 18 months.
"Mateta has also been a target for Juventus and Aston Villa this month, and has expressed his desire to play for a club competing in the Champions League to increase his chances of going to the World Cup this summer, after receiving his first call-up from France coach Didier Deschamps last season," the aforementioned media outlet adds.
Nottingham Forest's interest comes just before Sunday's match between the two clubs, and at a time when both are still far from securing survival.
Before the start of the new season, UEFA found Palace guilty of violating the rules on ownership of multiple clubs, after which Forest took their place, and Oliver Glasner's team ended up in the weaker Conference League.
Mateta has scored eight goals in the Premier League this season, while last season he only managed 14.
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