Manchester United are reportedly set to make a “concrete move” for Jean-Philippe Mateta, with Crystal Palace ready to green-light his sale for a knockdown price.
Ruben Amorim is desperate for a top-class striker following Rasmus Hojlund’s trainwreck of a season, which saw him only score four times in the Premier League.
Hojlund is rumoured to be on the chopping block as patience with him wears thin, and United are already on the hunt for his replacements.
Liam Delap was mentioned to be the Red Devils’ top target for the striker position but the Ipswich Town man decided to sign for Chelsea instead. Other players mentioned to be of interest to United include Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP), Victor Osimhen (Napoli), Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig) and of course, Mateta.
Mateta had another standout season, registering 17 goals and four assists in all competitions. He was instrumental in Palace’s FA Cup victory, playing a key role in their memorable win over Manchester City in the final at Wembley.
Last week, French news outlet L’Equipe claimed that United were positioning themselves to sign Mateta.
Now, journalist Rudy Galetti of TEAMtalk reports that Mateta is “at the top” of United’s striker shortlist and the club are “expected to make a concrete move in the coming days” to explore the possibility of getting a deal for the player over the line.
United are now fully focused on securing the services of a striker after confirming Matheus Cunha’s arrival on Sunday.
TEAMtalk add, “We understand that despite Mateta’s fantastic season in which he helped Palace win the FA Cup, the Eagles are willing to sell the forward for a fee in the region of €30m (£25.2m) to €35m (£29.5m).”
“Mateta’s contract with Palace is set to expire in 2027, as Palace have triggered the option to extend his current deal by another year. This could still mean they will be forced to consider bids, however.”
Amorim’s side will have to ward off competition from Italian giants Juventus and AC Milan.
It’s understood Osimhen is no longer a priority for Juventus and as a result, the Old Lady have been “following the situation” of Mateta for weeks.
Meanwhile, AC Milan are eager to back Massimiliano Allegri, whom they recently appointed as their new manager, and they believe Mateta is a good fit for them.
Galetti notes that the race for Mateta is “heating up” and United will need to be lest they miss out on him.
Feature image Michael Regan via Getty Images
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Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
