Just in: ‘Absolutely brilliant’ EPL star keeps Aston Villa on hold, he only wants Man Utd

Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Matate is reportedly holding out for an offer from Manchester United, who remain his favourite destination.The Red Devils have thus far had an uneventful January, with only young players returning from loan or heading towards other temporary destinations, the likes of Harry Amass and Toby Collyer.United are said to be in the market for a new midfielder, but have yet to make significant steps for any January arrival, as reinforcement will most probably arrive in the summer.But despite their lack of activity, Man Utd continue to monitor several situations on the market, including Mateta’s.Jean-Philippe Matata wants Man Utd above all elseMateta has been dominating the headlines over the past week or so, having requested his departure from Selhurst Park.While Crystal Palace haven’t closed the door on his sale, they are willing to proceed on their terms. Last season’s FA Cup winners have reportedly set their asking price at circa £35 million, and will only consider a permanent transfer.Jean-Philippe Mateta in action for Crystal Palace. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Juventus were the first to launch an onslaught for the Frenchman, but couldn’t satisfy the Eagles’ demands. Aston Villa have now entered the fray, hoping to secure a deal in the final 10 days of the January transfer window.But according to a popular news account on X (formerly Twitter), Mateta is still hoping to secure a move to Man Utd.The source claims that the centre-forward is waiting for United to knock on his door in the coming days. However, INEOS have yet make a step on this particular front.Is there room for Mateta at Man Utd?United had already revamped their attack last summer by signing Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko.However, the Red Devils were also linked with the Crystal Palace star last summer, and Sam Allardyce had insisted they should have signed the ‘absolutely brilliant’ Mateta instead of Sesko. Stats in 25/26 Appearances Goals Assists Jean-Philippe Mateta 33 10 2 Benjamin Sesko 19 5 1 Bryan Mbeumo 18 8 1 Matheus Cunha 21 4 2 Joshua Zirkzee 16 2 1 At this stage, it doesn’t appear that Man Utd will recruit a new striker in January. After all, Michael Carrick curiously dropped Sesko and Cunha from his starting lineup on his winning debut against Man City, opting to start with Mbeumo upfront.Moreover, Joshua Zirkzee is expected to return from his injury in the coming days. The Dutchman’s fate remains undecided, so his exit might pave the way for the arrival of a new attacker, but this scenario remains improbable at this stage.