Manchester United’s chaotic rebuild under Sir Jim Ratcliffe has taken another wild turn, with Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta suddenly springing past Viktor Gyokeres as their prime forward target, claimed by GFFN. With Champions League football off the table for the next season if they fail to win Europa League, Ratcliffe’s ruthless realism has United chasing a striker whose goals eclipse their entire frontline. It will be a tricky transfer but United are into the hunt for the Frenchman.
Sporting Lisbon’s Gyokeres seemed the obvious fit but his desire to join a Champions League club would make a switch to United a total misfit, despite playing previously under Ruben Amorim at Sporting. Enters Mateta in the discussion with 15 goals this term, including a ruthless 12 in the Premier League. Compare that to Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee’s pitiful five-goal partnership, and it’s no wonder Manchester United scouts are swarming Selhurst Park for the Frenchman.
Palace knows they’ve got leverage. Mateta’s contract runs until 2027, and boss Oliver Glasner, who rates the forward highly, won’t budge for less than £40m. For United, the transfer is a financial tightrope as they count every penny to fund transfers amid financial struggles. Recently, Ratcliffe implemented tough cost-cutting measures to ease financial debits, but cashing on Mateta risks FFP headaches again unless player sales materialize. United is expected to make a substantive number of sales going into the summer transfer window.
Mateta recently was on the receiving end of a reckless challenge by Millwall goalkeeper’s reckless challenge that left him with 25 stitches in his ear. Scans cleared him of serious damage, and Palace insiders whisper he’ll return for their FA Cup quarter-final against Fulham.
Mateta’s not a luxury player. His brilliant hold-up play and aerial dominance align perfectly with Amorim’s 3-4-3 system, a stark contrast to the current United forward lineup who are finding it difficult to score goals regularly. Since Glasner’s arrival, the Frenchman’s added efficiency to his game, netting nine goals in six games last spring. At 27, he’s hitting his peak, and a move to Old Trafford may clinch him a spot in France’s 2026 World Cup squad as well.
With United’s attack ranking among Europe’s worst, desperate times call for desperate deals. The gamble? If Ratcliffe underestimates Palace’s £40m demand, Palace won’t blink. For Mateta, the attraction is clear, life at the Theatre of Dreams. Manchester United may not be at the very best of their game currently, but hardly any club comes closer to the might of Manchester United in England. What happens with the development is set to be seen but for now, United will shift their focus to Sunday’s crucial game against Arsenal as they host the Gunners at Old Trafford.