According to TBR Football, Manchester United have joined the race for Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta. The Premier League club want to sign him to strengthen their offensive unit in order to compete for prestigious trophies.
Jean-Philippe Mateta is doing great
Jean-Philippe Mateta came through Lyon Academy and joined Crystal Palace in the January window of 2021. Since then, he has been a key performer for the club and has established himself as a mainstay in the squad.
Mateta is enjoying a great time in the ongoing campaign as he has already netted 13 goals and provided two assists in 28 games so far. He is averaging 2 shots, 0.8 key passes, and 0.4 dribbles per game (stats via whscored).
The French striker is clinical with his finishes around the penalty box and also facilitates hold-up plays. He makes intelligent runs and likes to attack the goal directly. He also covers a lot of ground to help his side in the defensive phase.
Jean-Philippe Mateta can be a great pick
Manchester United already have Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee as their striking options. However, both hasn’t been convincing enough yet. The club understand that they need an upgrade at the position to make their side more competitive.
Hence, the Red Devils are showing interest in Jean-Philippe Mateta, who has been doing excellent in the Premier League. He is at the top of his game and can contribute some significant years at the Old Trafford.
The 28-year-old has 18 months left on his current contract and Crystal Palace are already trying to tie him with a new contract. As the player hasn’t shown any interest in extension as of now, he can be a viable target for Manchester United. However, they will face stiff competition from multiple clubs for the signature of the striker.
