Manchester United are one of the clubs showing the strongest interest in a potential transfer move for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.
The France international has shone for Palace but is now seen as unlikely to engage in talks over a new contract, alerting Man Utd and others, as I first reported here for the Daily Briefing.
The Red Devils are alongside Newcastle and Tottenham as showing a strong interest in Mateta, who is open to a new challenge after winning silverware with Palace and working his way into the French national squad.
United could do with a top striker like that as an upgrade on the under-performing Benjamin Sesko, while he’d also surely make a good fit for clubs like Newcastle and Spurs.
Jean-Philippe Mateta transfer situation explained
According to my sources, Palace at one point looked like tying Mateta down to a new contract, but the feeling now is that he’s unlikely to engage further in talks as he wants to move.
This could lead to the 28-year-old being available for around £40m, with a January move possible.
“Palace had hoped to tie him down to a new contract, but I think there’s a growing realisation now that the player is unlikely to engage further in talks,” one source said.
“Mateta is one to watch for sure. A new contract doesn’t look likely, so they may well feel it’s a good time to cash in. Don’t be surprised if £40m gets a deal done,” another told me.
Where next for Jean-Philippe Mateta?
Mateta will likely want to play in Europe, which could be an issue for United, but it’s also true that MUFC still have that big-name pulling power, as we saw in the summer when they raided Premier League clubs to sign Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.
Mateta might also do well, however, to consider Tottenham, where he’d surely get a key role in Thomas Frank’s side after a lack of impact from the north Londoners’ other strikers.
Newcastle could also be a good option as they need to replace Alexander Isak and might feel they already need an upgrade on the injury-prone Yoane Wissa.
Wissa is injury prone ?
He hardly missed a game while at Brentford … do your homework!
What are your sources? Chicken entrails? This is utter rubbish.
This is absolute BS, you write this rubbish to get traffic, but people will soon get sick of it and never visit or trust your site again, super short sighted business model!
Is it just a forum to put out a bit of footy gossip based on some evidence, Peter ?
After seeing how footy forums used to be not so long ago were used by some fans (of any denomination) with swearing and rude personal insult (sometime hidden using “alternative spellings”), tragedy insulting, basic tantrums and ugly gloating etc., it seems a lot more intelligent to me, PC.
You don’t have to agree. Just state your opinion (with some humour if you want).
You do not sign a proven Premier League striker for £40m in January with 18 months left on a contract.
Doesn’t matter who you are.
Are your “sources” from within Palace or, as it seems, a bloke having a piss next to you in the toilets of your local pub?
Interesting update — the transfer buzz around Mateta perfectly captures how anticipation builds in sports, much like cricket live updates that keep fans hooked to every move