Tottenham Hotspur are expected to make a late call on Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.
The Frenchman faces an uncertain future with less than a week left in the January transfer window.
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Mateta has told Palace officials he wants to leave the club and would prefer a move to be approved later this month.
His decision comes after he begins the final 18 months of his contract at Selhurst Park.
Nottingham Forest have already lodged a £35million bid for the striker, with personal terms not being an issue.
Meanwhile, Palace have held talks with Wolves and have identified Jorgen Strand Larsen as a possible replacement.
The Premier League transfer window closes on Monday 2nd February at 7:00pm GMT.
The Pitch Prospect’s chief football correspondent Alex Crook believes Spurs could still be in the running to sign the 28-year-old.
Spurs join the Mateta race
He informed White & Jordan of the current status of the transfer promise, telling White & Jordan: “We know he wants to leave Crystal Palace. He has verbally informed the hierarchy there that this is his preferred option in this window.”
“An offer of £40m will be accepted as we’ve been told. I think Forest are willing to pay £35m so they’re not too far apart in terms of the valuation of the two clubs.”
“But what’s also crucial is that Palace needs to find a replacement for the building.”
“Maybe Jorgen Strand Larsen from Wolves, someone who Matt Hobbs, now sporting director at Palace, brought to Molineux when he had the same title there.
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“I wonder if there could be a Tottenham-sized twist in this search for Mateta because there are a lot of rumors coming out of Italy that they are ready to end Randal Kolo Muani’s loan so that he can move to Juventus for the rest of the season.”
“You have to assume that Tottenham need a replacement for that and Mateta is someone who has been on their list before.”
“We know the hierarchy at Spurs are prepared to spend money in this window. They have already signed Conor Gallagher and Souza, the young Brazilian left-back.”
“That’s why I would keep an eye on Tottenham and Mateta until Monday evening.”
Kolo Muani has made just 13 appearances for Thomas Frank’s side since his loan move from Paris Saint-Germain.
The Spurs striker has scored two goals in 23 appearances across all competitions.
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Jordan on Mateta’s future
Meanwhile, former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has delivered a scathing assessment of Mateta.
Asked whether he would accept Forest’s offer, the The Pitch Prospect co-host explained: “Depends on what I suggest as a replacement.”
“When I’ve done my business in my mind’s eye and know what I’m buying and it’s a done deal somewhere else.
“And that little jerk who doesn’t want to play for me anymore can go somewhere else and I can take advantage of him and get a replacement.”
“I’m not a fan of Mateta. I think he’s a mixed bag player who has done quite well. I think he hit a bad run of form last year and looked really good.”
“But before, with all due respect to Dele, he looked like a rich man’s Dele Adebola. He didn’t look like a physical athlete.”
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“He made it into the French team. I’m not surprised that Wilfried Zaha laughed at him 18 months ago when he wasn’t even in the Palace first team and was dreaming of playing in the French team.”
Mateta, who won the FA Cup with Palace last season and the Community Shield this season, has scored 10 goals in 34 appearances across all competitions this season.
Eight of those goals came in the Premier League, making him the club’s top goalscorer in the competition.
His league tally is more than double that of any other Palace player this season.