Saint-Etienne's sporting director Loic Perrin says his club had reached an agreement for the signing of Jean-Philippe Mateta before the Frenchman put pen to paper on a permanent deal at Selhurst Park.
The 24-year-old striker converted his 18-month loan deal from German side Mainz into a permanent four-and-a-half-year contract at Crystal Palace on transfer deadline day this week.
There had been speculation about Mateta's future at the club earlier in the window, but a run of games in Patrick Vieira's side saw the forward play himself into form and change his employer's minds.
