Manchester United’s summer rebuild under Ruben Amorim has picked up pace, with the club continuing to monitor attacking options as pre-season gathers momentum.
The Red Devils returned to Carrington with a fresh intensity last week, as Amorim laid out his tactical blueprint and began trimming his squad.
While players like Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho remain up for sale, United’s focus has quietly shifted toward bringing in another striker to ease the burden on Rasmus Hojlund.
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With the club walking away from costly pursuits, attention has turned to value opportunities in the Premier League.
That’s where Jean-Philippe Mateta has come into play.
The Crystal Palace forward, who bagged 17 goals in 43 appearances last season, is attracting strong interest from Manchester United, but Liverpool have now entered the race and could yet hijack the deal.
Foot Mercato claim the 28-year-old Frenchman, who is under contract at Selhurst Park until 2027, recently met with Liverpool officials in Paris alongside his agent.
While the Anfield club are interested, they’ve yet to make a formal bid — giving United time to assess the situation and potentially pounce.
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Jean-Philippe Mateta, who previously played for Lyon and impressed at the Olympic Games with five goals in six games, is viewed as a cost-effective target compared to options like Alexander Isak and Ademola Lookman, both of whom would command fees closer to €100 million.
Crystal Palace are reportedly open to selling, with the asking price believed to be between €40 and €50 million.
Given his proven Premier League experience and physical profile, Mateta fits the mould of striker Amorim favours.
With Liverpool stalling in negotiations and focusing on other areas following the tragic death of Diogo Jota and his brother, United may feel this is the ideal moment to act decisively.
A move for Mateta would be unexpected, but it wouldn’t be the first time United have swooped in late to outmanoeuvre a rival.
