A number of Premier League sides are chasing Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta, reports claim, but any interested club will have to pay £50m for a player who has net 42 goals since joining in 2021
Manchester United would have to stump up around £50million if they want to sign Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta, according to reports.
The 27-year-old has been in superb form for Oliver Glasner’s side, scoring six goals in his last five Premier League games and and turning the heads of Europe’s elite in the process.
According to the Sun, Lyon are now keeping tabs on the Frenchman in a move that would be controversial given that the club’s owner John Textor is the largest shareholder at Palace.
The report says a number of Premier League sides are chasing Mateta, but that any club who wants to sign him will have to pay £50m “at least” for a player who is only getting better at Selhurst Park after reaching 42 goals in total since joining in 2021.
Last season Mateta hit 19 goals in all competitions and United were tipped to sign the striker by Paul Merson amid their struggles up front.
United signed Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna this season but the Dutchman has had trouble adapting to life at Old Trafford with just five goals – while Rasmus Hojlund has seven in total.
Amorim even tried playing Kobbie Mainoo as a false nine – ironically in a 2-0 home loss to Palace – where Mateta scored a fantastic brace.
Merson told Sky Sports this week: “Man United should get Mateta, that’s what they need. He’s a strong lad up front, playing at the top of his game, he leads the line, scoring goals now. He runs and works his socks off harder than anyone you know.
“He’s 100 times better than anyone Man Utd have in the front line. Not Amad [Diallo], he’s a young kid – but he’s much better than Hojlund and Zirkzee at the moment.”
It comes after Spanish outlet Fichajes claimed Barcelona are also interested, seeing the forward as an alternative to first choice Robert Lewandowski.
His contract expires in 2027 and is not the only player Palace player being chased ahead of a possible summer move – with defender Marc Guehi being linked with an exit after the club rejected a bid from Tottenham in January.
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