Manchester United are reportedly considering a move for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Red Devils are on the lookout for a striker, following underwhelming performances from Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee this season.
Currently sitting in 14th place ahead of the weekend’s action, United have scored just 33 goals in the league.
Only five teams in the division have netted fewer, prompting manager Ruben Amorim to seek solutions to the club’s goal-scoring woes.
In contrast, Mateta has found the back of the net consistently for Palace, scoring 12 goals in 27 Premier League appearances this season.
That’s seven more than Højlund and Zirkzee combined, with the duo tallying two and three goals, respectively.
Man United Keen On Signing Mateta In The Summer
Adding a Premier League-proven goalscorer like Mateta could be the key to solving United’s attacking issues.
According to L’Équipe, United have reportedly opened talks with Palace regarding a potential deal for the 27-year-old.
Mateta is under contract at Selhurst Park until the summer of 2027, meaning Palace are in no rush to sell and would demand a significant fee.
The report suggests that United, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS backing the move, may need to part with around £40million to secure Mateta’s signature.
Losing the France international would be a blow for Palace, especially as manager Oliver Glasner has praised the striker as the “best finisher” he’s worked with.
Mateta is currently sidelined after an injury sustained during a collision with Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts in Palace’s FA Cup fifth-round clash last weekend.
The striker was hospitalised following the incident, but while he avoided serious injury, he remains unavailable for the time being.
