
Crystal Palace losing Jean-Philippe Mateta this transfer window was a done deal from the very start, but the move has triggered a potential domino effect that promises to seriously shake up the league.
Once Mateta departs for Milan, Wolves’ Jorgen Strand Larsen will join Crystal Palace, and consequently, it is reported by Rob Dorsett that Southampton’s Adam Armstrong will come in to fill the void left by the big Norwegian.
All three dominos are on the brink of falling - Mateta is reportedly undergoing a medical as we speak - and should they, then Wolves will be acquiring a player in Armstrong who boasts a vast well of experience in the English game, as well as a play-off final hero, as he scored the winning goal in the 2023/24 showpiece game against Leeds.
However, one thing Armstrong does lack is significant Premier League experience – he has amassed just 44 top-flight appearances across a career of over 450 games and in that time has notched just four Premier League goals.
In spite of this, the 28-year-old would bring a different dimension to Wolves’ attack – short in stature, the Englishman relies on quick movement and excellent positioning to get the better of his markers, and with 96 Championship goals to his name across spells at Blackburn, Bolton, West Brom, Barnsley and, of course, Southampton, he certainly knows where the net is.
Sources insist #cpfc expect Mateta to complete move to #acmilan and Strand Larsen from #wwfc to go through in other direction. Milan doctor currently assessing Mateta in London, but he is the head of the chain, with Adam Armstrong from #saintfc to #wwfc for £7m+2 at the bottom.
— Rob Dorsett (@RobDorsettSky) February 2, 2026
After returning from a loan spell at West Brom at the start of this season, Armstrong has hit his stride once again, netting 11 goals in 32 games for the Saints despite his side lying a disappointing 14th in the second tier. Regardless of where the goals come from, Wolves desperately need them, as they sit a dismal 18 points from safety in the top flight.
A preliminary £7 million plus £2 million in add-ons is in place for the striker – all the move needs now to go ahead is the “Here We Go” for Mateta’s transfer to AC Milan, which would see three striker moves done and dusted within minutes of each other.
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