- Crystal Palace face fight to keep Jean-Philippe Mateta
- Manchester United showing interest
- French striker has year left on contract
Crystal Palace face a massive battle to keep hold of striker Jean-Philippe Mateta this summer. Reports have emerged that Manchester United are actively plotting a move to lure the French striker away from Selhurst Park.
Mateta, who just cemented his status as an all-time Palace hero by scoring the dramatic winning goal to crown the Eagles as Europa Conference League champions, has caught the attention of the Red Devils as they prepare for a return to the Champions League.
With a summer of transition already underway in South London, losing the Frenchman would be a bitter pill for Palace football fans to swallow.
Manchester United eyeing Palace striker
According to a report from CaughtOffside, Manchester United have placed Mateta on a five-man striking shortlist. The Red Devils are looking to completely refresh their attack under their new setup. Joshua Zirkzee is heavily linked with a return to Italy.
United want a physical, Premier League-proven forward to provide depth alongside Benjamin Sesko, and Mateta fits the profile perfectly. He is an ideal target man to help ease the goalscoring burden on Sesko and replace Zirkzee.
Palace are caught in a vulnerable position when it comes to keeping their number 14, primarily due to two major factors. Mateta, who is heading to the World Cup, has entered the final year of his current contract at Selhurst Park.
If Palace cannot tie him down to a new deal soon, they risk losing a player valued as one of Europe’s top marksmen for a cut-price fee or worse, on a free transfer next year.
Oliver Glasner, the man who truly unlocked Mateta’s incredible form over the last two campaigns, has departed the club. Without Glasner at the helm, United may believe the 28-year-old could be tempted by a move to Old Trafford.
A huge loss
It is impossible to overstate how vital Mateta has become to Crystal Palace. While he has scored 62 goals in 202 total appearances for the club, a staggering 33 of those goals have come across the last two seasons alone.
He has evolved from an inconsistent rotation option into a truly elite European striker. This culminated in that unforgettable silverware-winning goal in Europe.
Losing him just as the club enters a new chapter without Glasner would leave a gaping hole in the Palace frontline. The hierarchy at Selhurst Park will need to move fast, present a compelling vision for the future, and likely break out a lucrative new contract offer if they want to fend off United’s advances and keep their frontman.
